2025 -- H 6221
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LC002725
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
DESIGNATING APRIL OF 2025, TO BE "SECOND CHANCE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Cruz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, J. Lombardi, Hull, Biah,
Morales, Potter, Stewart, and Felix
Date Introduced: April 10, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act (SCA), passed in 2008, is the largest source of 1
federal funding established to break incarceration cycles and help people reenter their 2
communities after jail or prison; and 3
WHEREAS, The SCA has fueled significant drops in recidivism and has saved 4
governments money, made and kept neighborhoods safer, and is helping people lead healthy and 5
meaningful lives; and 6
WHEREAS, Second Chance Month (SCM) is a nationally-recognized celebration of 7
second chances, fresh starts, and breaking barriers for people who have been impacted by the 8
legal system; and 9
WHEREAS, Between 70 - 100 million people in the United States have a past arrest or 10
conviction record, which includes arrests that did not lead to convictions, misdemeanors, and 11
felonies, but can create significant barriers to employment, housing, and stability; and 12
WHEREAS, A staggering 94 percent of employers, 90 percent of landlords, and 13
approximately 60 percent of educational institutions, utilize background checks, which often 14
limits opportunities for those persons with records. In addition, over 42,000 state and federal 15
restrictions impose additional obstacles, many affecting essential aspects of life; and 16
WHEREAS, Past arrest or conviction records have resulted in nearly half of all children 17
in the United States currently having at least one parent with a record; and 18
WHEREAS, Millions of people with arrest or conviction records report difficulty getting 19
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a job and maintaining employment; They are 50 percent less likely to get a callback, making it 1
difficult to make a living or pay rent or bills, which results in keeping them trapped in joblessness 2
or poverty; and 3
WHEREAS, Support for the sealing of eligible records for people who have remained 4
crime-free for a period of time are: 5
• A person is no more likely to commit an offense after staying crime-free for 4 to 7 6
years than anyone else; 7
• Studies have shown that within one year of having a record sealed, people were 11 8
percent more likely to be employed and saw an over 22 percent increase in income; and 9
• Over 15 million people are currently eligible for full or partial record sealing in the 12 10
states, representing the full political spectrum, that have already enacted legislation to meet 11
sealing of eligible records criteria; and 12
WHEREAS, The purpose and vision of Second Chance Month is to no longer define a 13
person only by their past record, but to provide them with a fair opportunity to work, get an 14
education and a job, and reach their full potential; now, therefore be it 15
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 16
proclaims April of 2025, to be "Second Chance Month" and reinforces support and commitment 17
to providing second chances; and be it further 18
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 19
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Dawn Simas, Board of Directors, The Formerly 20
Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island, Meko Lincoln, Board of Directors, The Formerly 21
Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island, Alexis Morales, Pawtucket Program Director, Project 22
Weber/RENEW, and Alexandrea Gonzalez, Director, Gather Together United As1. 23
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LC002725
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