| R 204 |
| 2018 -- H 8127 Enacted 04/26/2018 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2018, TO BE "SECOND CHANCE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Lombardi, Williams, Tobon, and Johnston |
| Date Introduced: April 26, 2018 |
| WHEREAS, One in four American adults has a prison record and even though many |
| have served their time, changed their lives, and want to be responsible members of their |
| communities and provide for their families, they face almost insurmountable odds that make it |
| very difficult for them to be productive members of society; and |
| WHEREAS, American adults with criminal records are burdened with more than 48,000 |
| legal restrictions which severely limit their ability to find jobs, attain adequate housing and even |
| vote in many jurisdictions. Combine this with the social stigma those with a criminal record face, |
| and it is easy to understand just how hard it is for these adults to fully integrate back into society; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship is the largest Christian ministry prisoner advocacy group |
| in the world. They advocate on behalf of and in support of prisoners and former prisoners and |
| their families. Prison Fellowship preaches the word of God and teaches about God's love and the |
| power of redemption within 1,000 prisons in America; and |
| WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship also encourages prisoners to take responsibility for their |
| crimes, to make amends to victims, if possible, and offers them counseling, teaches them life- |
| skills, and advocates for criminal justice and prison reform; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
| Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the month of April, 2018, to be "Second Chance Month" |
| in the State of Rhode Island; 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 Mr. James J. Ackerman, President and CEO of |
| Prison Fellowship. |
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| LC005473 |
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