According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 1.9 million people were incarcerated in the United States in 2023, including approximately 1.25 million in state and federal prisons and more than 664,000 in local jails. Local jails recorded approximately 7.6 million admissions during the year, demonstrating the continual cycle of incarceration and community reentry. Every day, thousands of men and women are released from correctional facilities and return to their families and communities. Research continues to show that many formerly incarcerated individuals face repeated contact with the criminal justice system without effective reentry support.

In Wyoming, men and women released from the Wyoming Department of Corrections return to communities across the state, including Campbell County. Many leave incarceration with limited financial resources, no stable housing, difficulty securing employment, untreated mental health or substance use disorders, and few positive support systems. These challenges often become significant barriers to successful reintegration and increase the risk of recidivism. Campbell County, with a population of nearly 48,000 residents, experiences these same reentry challenges while also facing the unique limitations of a rural community, where housing, transportation, and specialized services can be difficult to access.

Second Chance Ministries exists to bridge this critical gap by providing practical assistance, mentoring, faith-based encouragement, and connections to essential community resources for individuals returning to Campbell County after incarceration. By helping returning citizens secure housing, employment, transportation, recovery support, and healthy relationships, we seek to reduce recidivism, strengthen families, improve public safety, and offer every participant the opportunity for a successful second chance.