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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, America has more than 2,000,000 of its people in
3prison, which is more than any other developed nation in the
4world; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The vast majority (95%) of the men and women in
6our prisons will eventually return to their communities; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Few of those who return to their communities are
8prepared for their release, and often face barriers to reentry,
9such as serious physical and mental health problems, no place
10to stay, and lack of education or qualifications to hold a job;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, One-third of all correction departments provide
13no services to released offenders, and most departments do not
14offer a transitional program, placing a heavy burden on
15families and communities; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Two-thirds of persons released will be rearrested
17for new crimes within the first 3 years after their release;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Congressman Danny K. Davis sponsored the Second
20Chance Act of 2007 for the purposes of providing transitional

 

 

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1assistance to ex-offenders in coping with the challenges of
2re-entry, reducing recidivism, helping to reunite families and
3protect communities, and enhancing public safety; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act of 2007 was signed into law
5on April 9, 2008; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides grants to
7state and local governments to promote the safe and successful
8reintegration of offenders into the community upon their
9release; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12designate July 3, 2017 and July 3, 2018 as Illinois Citizens
13Re-entry Day, to be observed in recognition of Congressman
14Danny K. Davis' work in helping to provide ex-offenders with a
15second chance and opportunity to re-enter society as productive
16citizens, and to encourage continuing support of such citizens
17as they re-enter their communities; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
20Representatives, the President of the Senate, and Congressman
21Danny K. Davis.