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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, April 2023 has been recognized by presidential |
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proclamation as Second Chance Month to honor those who have |
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successfully reentered society after being incarcerated and to pay |
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tribute to the community groups, faith-based organizations, and |
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employers that are helping to reduce recidivism among former |
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inmates; and |
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WHEREAS, Individuals who have been incarcerated face |
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significant barriers in returning to life outside of a detention |
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facility; those who have successfully made that transition are |
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worthy of recognition, not only because of the challenges they have |
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overcome but also because of the positive example they provide to |
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others who are walking the same path; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas is home to many men and women who |
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have transcended their troubled pasts to become productive |
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citizens; among their numbers are Maggie Luna and Jennifer Toon, |
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who are helping to make a difference in the lives of others who have |
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faced obstacles following reentry; and |
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WHEREAS, Since her release from prison, Maggie Luna has |
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dedicated herself to empowering, organizing, and mobilizing others |
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at the state and local levels to enact meaningful change for inmates |
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and formerly incarcerated individuals, which she has accomplished |
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chiefly through her work as head of the Statewide Leadership |
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Council; through her advocacy and leadership, she also played a |
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pivotal role in saving the life of death row inmate Melissa Lucio, |
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who was granted a stay of execution by the Texas Court of Criminal |
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Appeals in April 2022; Ms. Luna is an alumna of JustLeadershipUSA, |
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and she currently serves on the community advisory council of the |
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Texas After Violence Project, a criminal justice reform group; and |
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WHEREAS, After serving two decades in prison, beginning at |
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the age of 15, Jennifer Toon has become a statewide policy expert |
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and a leader in justice reform for incarcerated and returning |
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women, children, and people with disabilities; she is the founder |
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of the Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance, and she currently |
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serves as head of Finish the 5, a campaign to close youth prisons in |
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Texas, and as a community advisor for the Texas After Violence |
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Project; and |
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WHEREAS, Many more individuals throughout our state have |
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likewise emerged from the criminal justice system to realize |
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meaningful goals in a broad range of endeavors, and their |
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experiences offer a moving testament to the human potential for |
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redemption; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 2023 as Second Chance Month, |
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honor Maggie Luna and Jennifer Toon for their contributions as |
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activists for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation, and |
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commend those organizations and individuals who are assisting |
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former inmates in reintegrating into society. |