Second Chance Quest is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by several prisoners along with the aid and support of their family members in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. The mission of Second Chance Quest is the reduction of the prison population which stands at over 2 million incarcerated men and women at an annual cost of over $80 billion dollars in tax funds. By far, the United States has the largest penal colony on the planet.
We here at SCQ believe this can and must change, as far too many who have paid the cost of being incarcerated is the poor; those who could not afford proper legal assistance. We at SCQ propose that our government implement alternative sentences in the cases of nonviolent offences. We advocate these man and woman should be ordered to perform community services in their jurisdiction as opposed to being locked up for decades. We further propose that nonviolent offenders who are able bodied should be afforded the opportunity to service in the military in order to expunge their criminal record and have a true second chance to living as a productive citizen.
Second Chance Quest further believes, if there is to be a lasting effect on the reduction of crime and the number of people going to prison, then prisoners and ex-prisoners must be included in playing an active role on the highest level of governmental conversation and action in the planning and implementation of policies pertaining to reduction of crime. Besides, who best knows the solutions to crime and imprisonment than those who have, “been there done that”, as they say. It’s time for our officials to take a new approach in solving this grave ill we call crime and punishment.
As an organization Second Chance Quest believes we can be affective if we approach this problem on two fronts. One: Mentoring prisoners and providing the necessary tools for them to change their thinking and outlook on life. Two: Mentoring at-risk children as a means of ending the school-to-prison pipeline.
For the past several years Second Chance Quest have been mentoring prisoners in preparation of their living crime-free lives upon release back into society. For three years prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, we have graduated over 300 men from our program in Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia; many of whom have been paroled or pardoned by former Gov. Ralph Northam and are now living as productive members of society.
Second Chance Quest is currently working in conjunction with the Angel Tree project in sponsoring at-risk children during the Christmas holiday season.
I’d like to take this moment to thank all those who have called in during our April Facebook Takeover. We have been receiving some great reviews and I encourage you all to continue to be a part of our takeover in April 2023. Let me further say, thank you for your continued support over the years. Second Chance Quest is look forward to the coming year as we have many exciting plans in the making. Join us today by becoming an official member of Second Chance Quest, together we can bring about the much need changes to our Justice system.
I’ll leave you with our motto: “The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no farther than yourself, but the ends you serve that are for all in common, will take you into eternity.” (Marcus Garvey)
Mr. Temple Bravo #1190151
