There are 2.3 million prisoners in federal/state prisons or local jails in the United States, the highest per capita rate of incarceration of any country in the world. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009).
This week, 260 non-violent prisoners were released from San Diego jails and prisons as part of the effort to reduce California's prison population.
Without support and services, we believe the majority of these newly-released offenders will re-offend and be returned to prison. Second Chance offers a way to break this cycle. Since 2003, more than 2,000 ex-offenders have graduated from Second Chance and 70% of these ex-offenders have obtained employment.
Our work with this population has received consistent media attention, and Second Chance Founder Scott H. Silverman was interviewed on NBC San Diego this week:
