Gov. Kay Ivey has proclaimed April to be second chance month in the state of Alabama.

According to a press release, the governor’s resolution supports Prison Fellowship’s efforts to unlock better futures for former inmates.

Prison Fellowship is the largest Christian nonprofit in the nation and is in place to serve current and former prisoners and their families.

“We are honored that Gov. Ivey signed this resolution,” Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy with Prison Fellowship Craig DeRoche said. “There is no such thing as a throwaway person, and by granting second chances to those who have earned them, we will be contributing to the restoration of families, communities and our nation.”

The opportunity for a second chance is contingent on whether an inmate meets the designated criteria that would earn them release after serving their sentence.

“Together, we are working to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent those with a criminal record from becoming productive members of society,” DeRoche said. “We believe people with a past can rise from their failure, repay their debts and that healing is possible for our communities affected by crime.”

According to Prison Fellowship Director of Communications Jim Forbes, there are far too many people that are released from prison only to wind up in a “second prison,” which can

The “second prison” Forbes refers to is the social stigmas that can accompany those having spent time behind bars and play a role in limiting their access to such things as jobs, education and housing.

The Prison Fellowship organization states that 65 million Americans have a criminal record.

Prison Fellowship was founded in 1976 by Chuck Colson, a former top aide to President Ricard Nixon, after he spent a seven-month stint in jail.

The nonprofit organization is based in Lansdowne, Virginia.