We argue that second chances are integral to the global community, playing a critical role in helping incarcerated individuals reform their behaviour and successfully reintegrate into society.
Second chances don’t only help with a smooth reentry but can also provide the opportunity to receive proper treatment for mental health disorders or assist individuals reaching potential through education (even if it is behind bars).
Second chances in the criminal justice system
In the criminal justice system, second chances are layered.
- The system needs to have mechanisms in place to offer offending individuals the chance to change their ways
- Incarcerated individuals need to give themselves a second chance
- Victims of crime offer forgiveness as a contribution to restorative justice
Second chances play an important part in restorative justice, where victims of crime release feelings of anger, resentment, and bitterness. It also helps to unblock the barriers of guilt.
Do these words echo true for you?
We argue that second chances are integral to the global community, playing a critical role in helping incarcerated individuals reform their behaviour and successfully reintegrate into society.
Second chances don’t only help with a smooth reentry but can also provide the opportunity to receive proper treatment for mental health disorders or assist individuals reaching potential through education (even if it is behind bars).
Seocond Chances in Restorative Justice
Research from Psychology Today reveals four powerful reasons to extend forgiveness to others and yourself.
- Forgiveness is important for subjective well-being as it offers emotional benefits, reducing anxiety, depression and major psychiatric disorders
- Personality isn’t set in stone, and second chances provide space for a person to change, grow, and learn from their mistakes
- Second chances are practical in conflict resolution and assist in preserving emotional energy
- Forgiveness is founded on the principle of treating others as you want to be treated
Point to ponder:
How have second chances played a positive role in your life? Now imagine the opportunity in a life-changing circumstance.
Formerly incarcerated individuals often refer to their release day as the best of their lives, but this joy can be short-lived during the adjustment period. Reentering society introduces various challenges such as finding employment, adjusting to a new routine, and dealing with overwhelming stress.
These difficulties often contribute to recidivism. In fact, a Nigerian review established that discrimination, lack of reintegration support, and the lack of employment lead to recidivism. The Bureau of Justice revealed similar statistics.
According to their study of 30 US states between 2005 and 2010, one-third of released individuals reoffended within six months.
However, effective intervention and support can change the narrative.
The doe Fund
The Doe Fund is an NYC-based nonprofit that strives to do exactly that by releasing male prisons through its Ready, Willing & Able program. Participants get paid to clean the streets and sidewalks of the city and continue to train for more specific trades. At the end of the program, participants are connected with job opportunities that help them get back on their feet.
An independent study by Harvard University's Dr. Bruce Western concluded that the program cuts the risk of future police contact by one-third.
One of these men is William Bossio, who struggled to reintegrate into society after his release. William did several prison stints after failing to keep up with the bills and the pressure to return to a life of crime. His parole officer introduced him to the program and pushed him to make the right decision.
Through the program, William has found hope after prison and feels “blessed to find a job.”
Read the full story at Business Insider.
One of the biggest challenges that formerly incarcerated people face is finding employment. Not only do many employers refuse to hire people with a criminal record, but people often leave prison without the education and basic skills needed to maintain employment.
That’s where businesses like Nehemiah Manufacturing come in, offering formerly incarcerated individuals a chance at reentry without judgment. Their story has been shared by Stand Together.
Nehemiah Manufacturing
At Nehemiah Manufacturing, 80% of employees are second chances hires, providing a place for formerly incarcerated people to earn a living and contribute to the economy while being treated with dignity and respect for who they are today and not what they did in the past.
Second chance hiring also plays a role in meeting worker shortages. In the instance of the manufacturing industry, the United States is expected to have 2.1 million manufacturing jobs unfilled by 2030, contributing to a $1 trillion loss in gross domestic product.
The Manufacturing Institute is countering this problem by creating programs for second chance hiring, and businesses have responded by embracing the opportunity to recruit and retain second chance hires.
The Value of Second-Chance Hiring
Businesses and communities are being strengthened through these programs. For example, turnover rates are lower among second-chance hires, helping businesses save money on hiring and training.
The vast majority of HR professionals (85%) and business leaders (81%) also report that second-chance hires perform the same or even better than employees without a criminal record.
As the workplace culture shifts to be more inclusive, second chance hiring is proving valuable for both individuals and businesses, strengthening the economy and stabilising communities.