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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH
WHEREAS, beginning in 2017, research institutions, community organizations, local and federal government agencies have recognized April as Second Chance Month; and
WHEREAS, Second Chance Month is a time to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals returning home from incarceration and promote second chances for these members of our community who have paid their debt to society; and
WHEREAS, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world where, despite being less than 5% of the world's population, the U.S. accounts for approximately 20% of the world's prison population; and
WHEREAS, according to the Prison Policy Institute, nearly 2 million people are incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons and jails across the United States; and
WHEREAS, approximately 53,000 Illinois residents are incarcerated in prison or jail; and
WHEREAS, stark racial disparities persist in our criminal legal system with Black Americans imprisoned at five times the rate of white Americans; and
WHEREAS, almost 5 million residents in the United States were formally incarcerated in state or federal prisons and at least 79 million people have a criminal record; and
WHEREAS, formally incarcerated individuals face legal and social barriers to attaining employment and fair housing; they experience higher rates of housing and food insecurity, mental, behavioral and physical health issues; and
WHEREAS, the time individuals are returning home from jail or prison, often referred to as the reentry period, is a critical time where both risk factors and protective factors impact outcomes for returning residents who can benefit from support as they navigate the challenges associated with reentry; and
WHEREAS, access to services including employment support, housing, health services and legal aid can contribute to successful reentry and effectively reduce rates of recidivi...
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