    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    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 Con

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    stitution 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.
    DONALD J. TRUMP