86R28208 JH-F

By: Allen H.R. No. 1268

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, April 2019 has been designated Second Chance Month by presidential proclamation, and this observance serves to honor those individuals who have successfully reentered society after being incarcerated; in addition, the occasion pays tribute to the community groups, faith-based organizations, and employers that lend a helping hand to former prisoners and that work to reduce recidivism; and

WHEREAS, Men and women who have been incarcerated face significant barriers in returning to life outside of a detention facility; those who have been able to make that difficult transition are worthy of recognition, not only because of the challenges they have overcome but also because they provide positive examples that help other former prisoners to successfully walk the same path; and

WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to a multitude of individuals who have transcended their troubled pasts to become productive citizens; included among their number are the following men and women who are playing prominent roles in the field of public policy and other community initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Following incarceration, Jorge Renaud devoted himself to furthering his education and earned his master's degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin; he has worked to change policy on the state and local levels and has served as a mentor to youth and adults to help them realize their full potential; and

WHEREAS, Douglas Smith became a statewide expert in criminal justice policy after his release from prison, and he has counseled new leaders on other public policy matters as well; in addition to his work as an adjunct professor at UT, he serves as treasurer of the Sobering Center Austin board; and

WHEREAS, Following his detention, Reginald Smith earned his bachelor's degree and will soon graduate with a master's degree in social work from UT; he is an expert in peer support and reentry and serves on the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, as chair of the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable, and as a member of the Sobering Center Austin board; and

WHEREAS, Darwin Hamilton, who successfully completed a parole period of 17 years without incident, is a published author and a member of the board of Grassroots Leadership; he also chairs the Reentry Advocacy Project and is an alumni of JustLeadershipUSA and Leadership Austin; and

WHEREAS, Since her release, Lauren Johnson has dedicated herself to effecting policy change at the local and state level, and her accomplishments have had a positive impact on thousands of Texans; additionally, she is a published author and an alumna of JustLeadershipUSA and Leadership Austin; the mother of three boys, she gave birth to her first child during incarceration; and

WHEREAS, Others who have exited the criminal justice system and who are making a notable difference in their community include Allison Franklin, who is nationally recognized for her work in behalf of survivors of human trafficking, Jose Flores, who works to prevent youth from becoming juvenile offenders, and Carl Hunter II, David Johnson, and Kevin Garrett, who are Peer Policy Fellowship trailblazers; moreover, Susanna Bannon, Jacqueline Frost, and Lewis Conway Jr. have distinguished themselves in their efforts related to education, civic engagement, and policy change; and

WHEREAS, Many more individuals throughout our state have likewise emerged from the criminal justice system to realize meaningful goals in a broad range of endeavors, and their experiences offer a moving testament to the human potential for redemption; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby recognize April 2019 as Second Chance Month and commend those who have made a successful transition to life outside the corrections system as well as those organizations and individuals who have assisted in that process.