- Noah Marty
- Legislative/Communications Assistant
- Noah.Marty@asm.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D - Encino) announced The Second Chance Sports Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand access to organized sports programming in California correctional facilities as a strategy to improve public safety, reduce recidivism, and support successful reentry into society. Jointly authored with Assemblymembers Issac Bryan (D - Los Angeles) and Juan Alanis (R - Modesto), Assembly Bill (AB) 2204 directs the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to adopt a comprehensive statewide policy to increase opportunities for participation in organized sports for incarcerated persons and authorizes CDCR to enter into partnerships with colleges, universities, and professional sports teams and leagues. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund – known as the Second Chance Sports Fund – to support public-private partnerships and expand programming in a targeted and cost-effective manner.
“Sports can be a powerful tool to help incarcerated individuals transform their lives and successfully reintegrate into the community,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. “Structured sports programs can help build discipline, teamwork, and accountability. The Second Chance Sports Act will harness the power of sports to promote rehabilitation, support correctional staff, reduce recidivism, and build stronger, safer communities across California. This legislation will reduce violence inside our prisons and reduce crime when people return home. And it will enable California to leverage public-private partnerships to expand opportunities without burdening taxpayers.”
“Anyone who has played a team sport understands the positive impacts it can have on a person. Playing sports reduces depression and anxiety, provides positive social interaction, and gives people a chance to think about how their actions impact a collective outcome,” said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D - Los Angeles), a longtime criminal justice reform advocate and coauthor of AB 2204. “Expanding access to this kind of programming for people who are incarcerated is good for both public safety and rehabilitation.”
“Accountability is only one step in reducing crime and making our communities safer,” said Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R - Modesto), coauthor of AB 2204 and a longtime law enforcement officer. “I believe The Second Chance Sports Act is a positive step toward encouraging rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and incentivizing the kind of discipline and accountability that makes real second chances possible. Public safety and second chances are not opposing values — they go hand in hand, and this bill reflects that.”
California has long been a national leader in adopting innovative approaches to rehabilitation that enhance public safety and uplift human dignity. Research has consistently shown that participation in organized sports and other structured programming reduces disciplinary incidents and lowers the likelihood that individuals will reoffend. It also improves physical fitness and mental health and helps individuals to build critical traits like communication skills, discipline, emotional regulation, and self-esteem, which can improve reintegration into society. By expanding access to organized sports – paired with mentorship and clear behavior expectations – this legislation aims to transform idle time into an opportunity for personal growth, responsibility, and rehabilitation.
Proof of concept for this approach already exists in California. The San Quentin Giants – a baseball program at San Quentin that has received support from the San Francisco Giants – provides opportunities for participants to practice against each other as well play games against outside teams and organizations. Participants have spoken publicly about the profound impact the program has had on their rehabilitation and self-esteem. AB 2204 would help to replicate such programming across California’s correctional system.
Background on AB 2204
AB 2204 aims to facilitate rehabilitation, reduce violence inside prisons, and enhance public safety in a sustainable and fiscally responsible manner. In particular, this legislation will:
- Develop Statewide Policy to Expand Access to Sports Programming – AB 2204 officially recognizes organized sports programming as a form of rehabilitation and directs CDCR to work with researchers, nonprofits, athletic organizations, and correctional officers to develop a formal statewide policy to expand opportunities for organized sports programming inside of state correctional facilities.
- Authorize Public and Private Partnerships – The legislation also authorizes CDCR to partner with colleges, universities, professional sports teams and leagues, and other entities to advance this policy.
- Create the Second Chance Sports Fund – This smart, cost-effective approach also creates a special state fund – known as the Second Chance Sports Fund – to facilitate the expansion of rehabilitative sports programs. The fund is designed to attract private philanthropic dollars, unlocking the kind of partnerships that made the San Quentin Giants possible and seeking to replicate them at scale.
By providing policy direction, resources, and a framework for collaboration, AB 2204 will help ensure that more incarcerated Californians have access to meaningful sports programming – improving health and well-being at CDCR facilities and strengthening rehabilitative outcomes across the state.
Earlier this week, AB 2204 advanced through the Assembly Public Safety Committee with unanimous bipartisan support. It now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where it is expected to be debated in the coming weeks.
What Experts and Community Leaders Are Saying
“Many of the things that people look for in gangs, they get out of sports. The camaraderie, the family atmosphere, the feeling of belonging to something. Sports was a way for me to interact with different cultures and learn how to be in heated situations without losing my cool.” - Jacob Brevard, Chief of Programs at the Anti Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
"California's correctional officers see firsthand the difference that meaningful programming makes — for the people in our facilities and for the safety of our communities. When incarcerated Californians have real opportunities to build discipline, self-esteem, and teamwork, everyone benefits — including our members who work alongside them every day. We're proud to support Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel’s Second Chance Sports Act and we look forward to working with the Legislature to make it a success." - Neil Flood, President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)
"AB 2204 is built on a proven premise: when we invest in people on the inside, we make our communities safer on the outside. I applaud Assemblymember Gabriel for working to strengthen California's commitment to a smarter, more humane approach to rehabilitation and public safety." - Anne Irwin, Founder of Smart Justice California
“From a law enforcement perspective, AB 2204 is about promoting what works to make communities safer. Giving people structured opportunities through sports to build discipline and skills while they’re incarcerated helps reduce reoffending — and that’s a win for public safety.” - Sean Thuilliez, President of the California Police Chiefs Association
“While I was incarcerated at Valley State Prison, the Fuego semi-professional soccer team came in as part of a reentry day, and that experience became one of the most impactful moments leading up to my release in 2025. What stood out wasn’t just the game—it was the community they created among all of us who participated. The compassion, understanding, and completely nonjudgmental atmosphere they brought into that space allowed me to witness a side of humanity I hadn’t seen in decades. For the first time in a long time, I saw what healthy, everyday people in a functioning, supportive community actually look like. That moment planted something in me that I didn’t fully understand until after I paroled. It gave me a real, lived example of connection, belonging, and positive engagement that I could carry with me into the world. Since then, I’ve been intentional about building that same kind of community around me—spaces rooted in respect, accountability, and genuine care. I now actively contribute to my community and strive to create healthy networks wherever I go, because I know firsthand the impact that kind of environment can have—not just on me, but on anyone who experiences it.” - Michael Stephens, Advocate with Healing Dialogue and Action