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MINNESOTA
SECOND CHANCE COALITION, Minneapolis
The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition is a product
of community-based organizations and individuals
advocating for fair and responsible laws and policies
that allow those who have committed crimes to redeem
themselves. By supporting and acting on behalf of
these citizens, the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition
hopes that they are able to fully support themselves
and their families and fully contribute to their
own communities.
 
Comprised of community-based organizations and justice
system supporters, the Coalition was founded by
180 Degrees, Inc, an organization that provides
intervention, prevention and supportive services
to formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering
communities. The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition
currently has partnerships with over 40 local nonprofits
and businesses that believe ex-offenders have paid
their debt to society and deserve a chance to re-enter
the workforce. These partners include but are not
limited to: 180 Degrees, Inc., founder and fiscal
agent for the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition,
A.H. Wilder Foundation-JobsFirst Program, Amicus,
Inc., Barbara Schneider Foundation, Central MN Re-Entry
Project, Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, Construction
Career Training Program, Correctional Transition
Services, Inc., Council on Crime and Justice, Elim
Transitional Housing, Inc, Emerge Community Development,
Friends for a Non-Violent World, Freedom Works,
Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota, Greater Minneapolis
Council on Churches, Hired, Jacob Wetterling Resource
Center, La Familia Guidance Center, L.I.F.E. in
Recovery, MAD DADS Minneapolis, Minneapolis Urban
League, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers, Minnesota Community Corrections Association,
Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, Minnesota
Catholic Conference, Minnesota Coalition for the
Homeless, Minnesota State Public Defender, MN Juvenile
Justice Advisory Committee, National Alliance on
Mental Illness of Minnesota, Network for Better
Futures, NOLA Investigates-Criminal Defense Investigation,
Northside Policy Action, Coalition Peace Foundation,
People Escaping Poverty Project, Project for Pride
in Living, Prison Policy Initiative, RS Eden, Rebuild
Resources The Reentry Clinic at William Mitchell,
TakeAction Minnesota and YWCA St. Paul.
The Coalition’s goal is to break barriers
facing individuals with criminal records and supporting
reforms that:
- Ensure
that everyone, regardless of means or background,
is treated equally and fairly through every part
of the criminal justice system.
-
Maximize the ability of ex-offenders to access
employment, housing, and education, and to become
fully contributing members of their communities.
- Ensure
that juvenile offenders are not limited in their
ability to become successful adults.
- Fully
diagnose and treat mental illness and chemical
addition.
- Limit
the potentially adverse impact of the criminal
justice system on children and families.
By implementing advocacy strategies, the Second
Chance Coalition has organized “Second Chance
Day” on the hill, which has raised the visibility
of re-entry issues and affected policy reform. Minnesota
is now the first state to require employers to wait
until someone has been selected for a job interview
before inquiring about criminal records (“Ban
the Box”). The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition
has also mobilized hundreds of individuals at the
Capitol, focusing efforts on effected individuals
by giving them a voice and positively engaging community
members throughout the state.
Visit
the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition: www.mnsecondchancecoalition.org
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