April is Second Chance Month, a time to recommit ourselves to building a justice system that sets people up for success and keeps communities safe. It’s also a time to celebrate the resilience and hard work of people returning from prison or on supervision to rebuild their lives.

Here at REFORM, we believe deeply in redemption – that people can move beyond their past. And that those who put in the effort truly deserve a fair opportunity to participate fully in our economy and contribute positively to their communities. That’s why we’re keeping up the fight to give real pathways to work and wellbeing for people on supervision. 

Because everyone deserves a second chance. 

The vast majority of people in prison and jail today will eventually return home. It’s up to all of us to make sure that they return home to paths of opportunity. 

So, what does a real second chance mean? 

A real second chance means the freedom to rebuild your life. A real second chance means a good job, a safe place to live, and a community that sees and supports you. A real second chance means that you’re not seen as a risk to be monitored, or a problem to be solved, but as a human being deserving of respect. 

But, too often, our system fails to measure up to these ideals. Consider the fact that between 60% and 75% of returning citizens remain unemployed one year after their release. Or the fact that 27% of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed. Or the fact that 2/3 of people on probation or parole make less than $20,000 a year. The result? 44% of people who are released from prison in this country are re-arrested within one year. And we’re all worse off. 

The opposite is also true. When people released from incarceration and those on supervision are given the tools they need to thrive, they do great things. The whole country is strengthened. 

For kids across the country, a second chance means mom and dad are at the dinner table every night. For employers, a second chance means they have great employees showing up to work every day and staying in those jobs longer. (Studies show that second chance hiring is a win-win, for employers and employees alike. 85% of HR professionals report that employees with records perform the same as or better than employees without records.) For communities generally, a second chance means that your friends and neighbors are safe, secure, and happy.

If you want to join the fight to give second chances to more people who are working hard to earn them, sign up to be a REFORMer today. To date, we’ve passed reforms that have created pathways for 850,000 people to exit the system and rebuild their lives – and we’re just getting started.