Second Chance Month  Second Chance Month, observed in the United States during April since 2017, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, and unlock second-chance opportunities for people who have paid their debt to society to become contributing citizens. The awareness effort is led by Prison Fellowship, the nation's largest nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and an advocate for justice reform. In the United States, one in three American adults has a criminal record, which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, and other things necessary for a productive life. Even after their debt to society is paid, these men and women face more than 48,000 documented legal restrictions in addition to widespread social stigma. This is sometimes called the “second prison.” Prison Fellowship founded Second Chance Month in 2017 to raise awareness and improve perceptions of people with a criminal record, encourage second-chance opportunities, and drive momentum for policy change throughout the country. The nonprofit designated April as Second Chance Month for several reasons, including the following:   Prison Fellowship declared Second Chance Month for the first time in April 2017. More than 77 organizations joined the nonpartisan effort as official second-chance partners (although partnership does not indicate support for particular legislation or policies). Throughout April, Prison Fellowship mobilized individuals, businesses, organizations, legislators, and other supporters to sign petitions, post to social media, attend special events, and amplify the call for second-chance opportunities in the United States. Prison Fellowship asked Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Robert Portman, R-Ohio, to take the lead with the United States Senate resolution to declare April 2017 as Second Chance Month. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., also co-sponsored the resolution. The Unites States House also introduced a resolution   Second Chance Month 2017 received widespread recognition by media outlets and other groups:   On April 8, 2017, Prison Fellowship hosted the Second Chance 5K walk/run, including a kid's fun run, at Sloan's Lake Park in Denver. Second Chance 5Ks are community events that bring people together inside and outside of prison to raise awareness of the many collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and catalyze real, significant change in public attitudes and policies. On April 23, 2017, Prison Fellowship and its Minnesota partners hosted the Second Chance 5K at Concordia University's Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul. The event drew more than 250 participants, including St. Paul's Mayor Chris Coleman, who shared comments at the rally prior to the race.