PRESS RELEASE 
April 2025 

April is Second Chance Month: Virginia Consensus Works to Boost Education and Employment Opportunities for Incarcerated Individuals  

RICHMOND, Va. – April is Second Chance Month in Virginia, an observance to highlight the successes and challenges of individuals returning to society after a period of incarceration.  

The Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison is using the month to highlight the importance of higher education programs in Virginia prisons and to promote expanded hiring opportunities with employers. 

The Virginia Consensus, an initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, brings together higher education, government and faith stakeholders, side by side with Virginians who have experienced incarceration to expand access to higher education in prison.  

Virginia currently offers college degree programs in 13 of its 45 state prisons through partnerships with four community colleges, including Danville Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Rappahannock Community College, as well as four-year school, Virginia Wesleyan University.   

Incarcerated students in prison higher education programs commonly utilize Pell grants, a federal student aid program for people with lower incomes. The grants are available to qualifying students who are incarcerated and, more commonly, pursuing degrees on traditional college campuses.   

The Virginia Consensus is also working to engage and educate employers about the benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, also known as “fair chance” or “second chance,” employment.  

The Consensus is partnering with Richmond SHRM to offer a free e-learning module for employers about second chance hiring best practices. 

Higher education in prison boasts a wide range of documented societal and practical benefits for students and the community at large. National research shows second chance hiring is proven to reduce recidivism and increase the likelihood of a person obtaining employment after serving time.  

Virginia Consensus leaders also point to second chance hiring as an important strategy to solve the state’s labor market deficit. There are only 47 workers for every 100 jobs available in the commonwealth according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce data.  

To learn more or join the Virginia Consensus, visit https://www.vchep.org/join-us.  
 

MEDIA CONTACTS 
Terri Erwin, PhD, Director, Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison, an initiative of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy: terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org, Roberta Oster, Communications Director, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy: roster@virginainiatinterfaithcenter.org  

                                                

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About the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison 

The Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison is a multi-sector collaboration focused on expanding access to college education for Virginians during incarceration and upon return home, to promote personal growth and meaningful career success. The Virginia Consensus is an initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. 

Facts on Second Chance Employment: 

Data indicates that second chance employment is an effective and timely practice for expanding the Virginia workforce, reducing recidivism and fostering economic competitiveness: 

  • About 10,000 individuals enter the Virginia labor market upon release from state prisons each year. Most will stay in Virginia and seek employment as early as possible. 

  • Second chance hires have a 73% lower turnover rate compared to those without criminal records, conferring retention-related cost savings to employing individuals with records.