[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19593-19594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07276]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2022 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 19593]]


                Proclamation 10362 of March 31, 2022

                
Second Chance Month, 2022

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                April marks Second Chance Month, when we reaffirm the 
                importance of helping people who were formerly 
                incarcerated reenter society. America is a Nation of 
                second chances, and it is critical that our criminal 
                and juvenile justice systems provide meaningful 
                opportunities for rehabilitation and redemption. It is 
                also vital that we address both the root causes of 
                crime and the underlying needs of returning citizens 
                using resources devoted to prevention, diversion, 
                reentry, trauma-informed care, culturally-specific 
                services, and social support. By supporting people who 
                are committed to rectifying their mistakes, redefining 
                themselves, and making meaningful contributions to 
                society, we help reduce recidivism and build safer 
                communities.

                Every year, over 640,000 people are released from State 
                and Federal prisons. More than 70 million Americans 
                have a criminal record that creates significant 
                barriers to employment, economic stability, and 
                successful reentry into society. Thousands of legal and 
                regulatory restrictions prevent these individuals from 
                accessing employment, housing, voting, education, 
                business licensing, and other basic opportunities. 
                Because of these barriers, nearly 75 percent of people 
                who were formerly incarcerated are still unemployed a 
                year after being released.

                We must rethink the existing criminal justice system 
                and whom we send to prison and for how long; how 
                unaddressed trauma and abuse create pipelines to 
                incarceration; how people are treated while 
                incarcerated; how prepared they are to reenter society 
                once they have served their time; and how the racial 
                inequities that lead to disproportionate numbers of 
                incarcerated people of color and other underserved 
                groups.

                My Administration recognizes that making the criminal 
                and juvenile justice systems more equitable, just, and 
                effective requires a holistic approach. It requires 
                eliminating exceedingly long sentences and mandatory 
                minimums that keep people incarcerated longer than they 
                should be. It requires quality job training and 
                educational opportunities during incarceration. It 
                requires providing formerly incarcerated individuals 
                with opportunities to enter the workforce, reunite with 
                their families, find stable and safe homes, and access 
                health care. It requires expunging and sealing certain 
                criminal records so that people's futures are not 
                defined by their past.

                That is why my Administration is working across Federal 
                agencies to eliminate barriers to reentry. We are 
                expanding avenues for employment, housing, education, 
                health services, civic engagement, and other benefits. 
                Last fall, the Department of Justice convened the 
                Reentry Coordination Council in collaboration with the 
                Departments of Housing and Urban Development, 
                Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, 
                Veterans Affairs, and Labor. I am confident that our 
                collective efforts will help make our communities safer 
                and stronger by reducing crime, recidivism, mass 
                incarceration, and elements of the justice system that 
                foster harmful disparate impacts on people of color and 
                other historically disadvantaged communities.

                But despite our progress, much more work remains. Our 
                Federal, State, local, territorial, and Tribal 
                governments, private employers, philanthropies,

[[Page 19594]]

                and community leaders play a significant role in 
                preparing individuals returning to our communities for 
                success. Together, let us recommit to empower Americans 
                who have paid their debt to society and to provide them 
                with a second chance to participate, contribute, and 
                succeed.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2022 as 
                Second Chance Month. I call upon all government 
                officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of 
                the United States to observe the month with appropriate 
                programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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

[FR Doc. 2022-07276
Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P