ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 10171ProclamationBiden · DCeremonial

Proclamation 10171

Second Chance Month, 2021

President Biden proclaimed April 2021 as Second Chance Month to promote criminal justice reform, reentry support, and rehabilitation for formerly incarcerated individuals. The proclamation calls for removing barriers to housing, employment, healthcare, and voting rights, but contains no binding policy directives or deadlines.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 17689

Key directives

  • Proclaim April 2021 as Second Chance Month
  • Call upon government officials, educators, volunteers, and people of the United States to observe with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities

Timeline

Immediate

  • Proclamation of April 2021 as Second Chance Month

Near term (90d)

  • Voluntary observance by officials, educators, volunteers, and public through programs and ceremonies

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

  • No binding policy mechanisms—proclamation is purely hortatory despite substantive policy language
  • Gap between ambitious rhetorical goals (expungement, ending mandatory minimums, voting rights restoration) and lack of concrete executive action in this document
  • Racial inequity framing without specific targeted interventions
Proclamation 10171: Second Chance Month, 2021 · Executive Orders