Giving People a Second Chance Promotes Human Dignity and Keeps Communities Safe
The United States Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to discuss reauthorization of the Second Chance Act (H.R. 3465/S.1690) in the coming weeks. In order to broaden support for this important legislation, your Senators and Representative need to hear from you to encourage them to co-sponsor and support the Second Chance Act.
The Second Chance Act supports programs that provide crucial employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victim support and other services to individuals returning to the community from incarceration.
Those who return to our communities from incarceration face significant challenges including: finding housing and stable employment, high rates of substance abuse, physical and mental health challenges and social isolation. Without critical support services, these persons are not afforded a full opportunity for true rehabilitation and have an increased chance of re-offending causing harm to society and increasing our nation‘s prison costs
Our Catholic tradition supports the community’s right to establish and enforce laws that protect people and advance the common good. But our faith also teaches us that both victims and offenders have a God-given dignity that calls for justice, not vengeance. Pope Francis has said, “God is in everyone‘s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else–God is in this person‘s life.“
Join the pope by supporting those who are leaving incarceration and urge Congress to support re-authorization of this important legislation.
See recent letters and statements promoting criminal and restorative justice reform by clicking here.
