NC Second Chance Alliance

Who We Are

The NC Second Chance Alliance is a growing statewide alliance of advocacy organizations, service providers, faith-based organizations, community leaders and interested citizens that have come together to achieve the safe and successful reintegration of adults and juveniles returning home from incarceration by promoting policies that remove barriers to productive citizenship. Nearly 50 groups, including the NC Justice Center, and a host of individuals have signed on to support the campaign. North Carolinians of all political perspectives believe that crime and punishment must go hand in hand, but they want to see a prison door that isn't a revolving door.

Consider these facts:

• Approximately 40,000 individuals are currently in NC prisons
  
• 95% of incarcerated individuals will eventually leave prison and return home
  
• Nearly 50% of those entering prison are repeat offenders
  
• It costs the NC Department of Corrections $23,000 annually to incarcerate an individual
  
• It costs $80,000 to construct a single prison bed
  

What's clear to us is that the current system of incarceration and re-incarceration is not working. It's eroding the safety of our communities, draining our state's resources, and failing those who have paid their debts to society. That's why we have joined together to create the NC Second Chance Alliance.

Our Call to Action

We're calling on the NC General Assembly to establish a study commission to examine the barriers facing those who were formerly incarcerated or have criminal records. We can no longer afford to pour our resources and dollars into a revolving door criminal justice system. The group launched its public campaign on Tuesday, March 10, with a press conference at the Legislative Building Press Room at the NC General Assembly. The NC Second Chance Alliance will promote policies that remove barriers to productive citizenship, beginning with the comprehensive study bill.

To Get Involved

For more information and to get involved in the NC Second Chance Alliance, contact: Louisa Warren at the NC Justice Center by phone (919) 856-2183 or by email at louisa@ncjustice.org. Get more information or endorse the campaign using the forms attached below.