2021 -- H 5945

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LC002210

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMS MARCH 2, 2021 AS A "DAY OF EMPATHY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE

ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Batista, Kazarian, Casimiro, Edwards, Potter,
Alzate, S Lima, Morales, and Giraldo

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Day of Empathy is a national day of action organized in various states

"to generate empathy, humanize, and uplift the stories of those who have been impacted by the

criminal justice system"; and

     WHEREAS, The vast majority of the more than 1,800 people currently serving sentences

in Rhode Island's prisons and jails will transition into communities throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, These formerly incarcerated individuals will become part of a population of

more than 70,000 Rhode Islanders who have a past felony record; and

     WHEREAS, Helping people with criminal records become productive members of

society benefits their families and communities in many ways, including improving safety and

preventing and reducing crime; and

     WHEREAS, Formerly incarcerated individuals face numerous challenges that include

finding work, housing, health care, and transportation, and these challenges may lead to

recidivism, health, social, and security concerns; and

     WHEREAS, Federal, state, and local leaders have worked to establish a policy that

supports individuals who return to their communities after serving time in prison, jail, or under

custodial supervision; and

     WHEREAS, Dream Corps JUSTICE has developed plans and policies to facilitate a

better transition for people from incarceration or community supervision back into society by

coordinating existing resources, identifying resource gaps, and advocating on behalf of

individuals with criminal records; and

     WHEREAS, The National Day of Empathy includes representation from government,

education, faith- and community-based organizations, and those formerly incarcerated, and is

studying the needs of individuals who have been released from correctional institutions and

working to increase the effectiveness of local reentry councils and smart criminal justice policies

and/or practices; and

     WHEREAS, The National Day of Empathy serves to connect justice-involved individuals

with resources and services important to successful reentry, and decrease stigma by raising public

awareness of the issues and challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals as they reenter

the community; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims March 2, 2021, as a “Day of Empathy” and urges its observance to all citizens; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Nick Horton and Patrick Westfall, Co-

Executive Directors of OpenDoors.

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