In connection with April’s designation as Second Chance Month, the Sheriff’s Office held a ceremony on April 29 to formally rename the men’s program housing unit as the Second Chance Unit.

Sheriff Sean Casey and members of the Inmate Services team addressed audience members including more than two dozen inmates and representatives from reentry partners Offender Aid and Restoration, Department of Community and Human Services, Alexandria Health Department, Shiloh Baptist Church CARES, Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and Northern Virginia Community College.

Director LaTanya Ervin welcomed guests and Reentry Counselor Mustafa Saboor provided opening remarks. Two participants in reentry programming, Zachary Bell and Kevin Rodriguez, then addressed Sheriff Casey, staff, invited guests and other program participants. Both expressed appreciation for the opportunities they have received to improve their futures.

Education Coordinator Krista Sofonia, ESL Instructor Dianara Saget and Chaplain Myron Contee, the Life Learning Instructor, all shared remarks and congratulated the program participants on their hard work.

Then Sheriff Casey and Director Ervin unveiled a new sign reading:
Second Chance Unit
Every day we are given two things, a chance and a choice.

Sheriff Casey closed the ceremony by thanking the Inmate Services team and guests, as well as the program participants. He told them that he appreciated their hard work and big investment in themselves and that without them, there would be no Second Chance Unit.

Following the ceremony, everyone enjoyed light refreshments.