Toledo Council proclaims April 2025 as National Second Chance Month, spotlights reentry work

Toledo City Council adopted a resolution on April 8 recognizing April 2025 as National Second Chance Month and highlighted local reentry efforts that city and county partners say reduce recidivism and support returning citizens.

The council adopted Resolution 132-25 by voice vote. The measure cites Lucas County’s recidivism rate of 23.2% — which the resolution says is lower than the statewide average — and urges residents to recognize reentry work by local advocates and agencies.

Councilwoman Williams said the issue was personal for many members of the community and council. “This work is near and dear to my heart because of so many relatives that I have, friends that I have that do have or have been through the system that needs that second chance,” Williams said during the council ceremony.

Speakers at the council chamber included reentry coalition leaders, returning citizens who now work in reentry services and representatives of local partner organizations. Tom Lukey, who addressed the council after being invited forward, said the reentry collaboration has helped the community and credited an early city and county investment for later grant success: “We’ve been able to bring in, close to, I wanna say, $5,000,000 to the community for reentry projects,” Lukey said.

Judge Coleman, speaking for local justice partners, described the tension between public safety and offering second chances. “This is a balancing act. We have to balance public safety over second chances,” he said, adding the county uses a validated risk assessment to focus detention on higher-risk individuals while offering supports to others.

Willie Knighton, a program participant turned facilitator, described his pathway from incarceration to workforce development work and said reentry services helped him and others secure jobs and education.

Other speakers described housing as a persistent barrier for people leaving incarceration. One panelist working on transitional housing said she places people in shared housing for an initial period and partners with area realty firms to move residents into longer-term units. Council and coalition speakers also highlighted partnerships with judges, probation, Goodwill and service providers as key to reentry outcomes.

The resolution text, entered into the record by the clerk, credits the Reentry Coalition of Northwest Ohio and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s Reentry Committee for local efforts. The council requested residents recognize the work of reentry advocates and agencies and encouraged continued collaborations across courts, corrections, service providers and volunteers.

Votes and formal action: The council recorded an affirmative roll call for the resolution (Jones; Komives; Martinez; McPherson; Melden; Morris; Sarantu; Williams; Driscoll; Gattis; Hartman; Hobbs). The clerk announced “Resolution adopted.”

The ceremony concluded with brief remarks and a photo opportunity; no separate funding appropriation or new ordinance was approved as part of the proclamation.