[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 65 (Thursday, April 4, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 13495-13496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06810]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 65 / Thursday, April 4, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 13495]]


                Proclamation 9857 of March 29, 2019

                
Second Chance Month, 2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Americans have always believed in the power of 
                redemption--that those who have fallen can work toward 
                brighter days ahead. Almost all of the more than two 
                million people in America's prisons will one day return 
                to their communities. In each case, they will have 
                served their sentence and earned the chance to take 
                their places back in society. During Second Chance 
                Month, we draw attention to the challenges that former 
                inmates face and the steps we can take to ensure they 
                have the opportunity to become contributing members of 
                society.

                Inmates are often eager to leave behind the challenges 
                presented by incarceration. Too often, however, they 
                find the transition to life outside of prison to be 
                daunting. If they are not able to find jobs and housing 
                and rebuild relationships with family and friends, they 
                may find it harder to escape the cycle of reoffending. 
                Sadly, 5 out of 6 State prisoners are rearrested within 
                9 years of their release, and more than a third of 
                former Federal prisoners will be rearrested within 5 
                years of their release. In addition to the harm caused 
                to the victims of crime, these high recidivism rates 
                place a significant financial burden on taxpayers, 
                deprive our labor force of productive workers, and 
                leave families without spouses, children, and parents.

                My Administration is committed to helping former 
                prisoners reenter society as productive, law-abiding 
                citizens. For this reason, I signed into law the 
                bipartisan FIRST STEP Act. This new legislation makes 
                several positive reforms to increase the likelihood of 
                successful prisoner reentry. The legislation provides 
                improved opportunities for inmates to engage in 
                educational coursework and vocational training, and 
                establishes pilot mentorship programs. It also allows 
                prisoners who successfully complete evidence-based 
                recidivism reduction programs to earn time credits to 
                apply toward prerelease custody or supervised release, 
                reducing their time in prison. Because maintaining 
                family and community ties is key to a successful 
                reentry into society, the bill includes provisions that 
                allow inmates to be placed in facilities closer to 
                their home communities, facilitating family visitation 
                during their time of incarceration. Finally, the law 
                makes adjustments to sentencing rules that will make 
                our criminal justice system more fair, reducing 
                penalties for certain drug offenders.

                This month, we celebrate those who have exited the 
                prison system and successfully reentered society and 
                renew our commitment to providing support and resources 
                that former inmates need to meet their 
                responsibilities, rediscover their self-worth, and 
                benefit from the gift of a second chance. We also 
                express our sincere gratitude to all those who play a 
                significant role in helping reduce recidivism, 
                including faith-based and community organizations and 
                employers willing to hire workers notwithstanding a 
                criminal history. By reducing recidivism and putting 
                former inmates on the path to success, we can reduce 
                crime and enhance the safety of our communities.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution

[[Page 13496]]

                and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim 
                April 2019 as Second Chance Month. I call on all 
                Americans to commemorate this month with events and 
                activities that raise public awareness about preventing 
                crime and providing those who have completed their 
                sentences an opportunity for an honest second chance.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2019-06810
Filed 4-3-19; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P