We Say We Believe in Second Chances. Do We Mean It?
Not long ago, people would gather in the town square to watch public executions. It was entertainment—a way to draw the line between the “good” and the “evil.” Thankfully, those days are gone. But if we’re being honest, the mindset remains.
We no longer cheer hangings, but we often applaud long sentences. We’re quick to celebrate when someone is “locked up and the key is thrown away.” In many ways, the justice system still promotes the us-versus-them mentality, more focused on punishment than rehabilitation.
I’ve seen echoes of this even as a youth soccer referee. In games with kids as young as 10 or 12, one side of the field might demand a red card for a foul, while the other insists nothing happened. It’s the same moment but two entirely different views of justice. It raises an important question: What is justice, really? Even in this example, do those calling for a red card really understand the implications? If I issue that card, not only is this kid tossed from the game, they’ll face sanctions, suspension from the league and tears will flow. What if it were their own kid that accidentally came in just a pinch too hard? Would they want to explain a one-game suspension to their own kid?
Unfortunately, our laws often follow emotion more than evidence. Most sentencing guidelines aren’t rooted in science. They’re shaped by public sentiment. A report by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission calls for using social science to make sentencing fairer and more effective. But right now, those best practices are the exception—not the rule.
There’s also a wide disparity in how people are sentenced. The victim’s identity, the prosecutor’s recommendation, the judge’s personal philosophy and the defendant’s access to legal help all influence the outcome. A recent study from Cornell University confirms that sentencing is still affected by race, with people of color often receiving harsher penalties for similar offenses.
But even after a sentence is served, the hardest part is often just beginning.
Let’s say someone committed a burglary. They served their time. Society agrees they don’t deserve to be locked up forever. But when they get out, they can’t get a job because they’re a “criminal.” At the same time, people don’t want them receiving government assistance—because, again, they’re a “criminal.” So from where exactly does that second chance come?
We expect people to land on their feet, but we don’t give them a place to stand.
This is the heart of Second Chance Month: not just to talk about forgiveness, but to build systems that actually allow people to return and contribute.
Self-employment offers one path forward. When you start your own business, most customers are more concerned about whether you’re providing a good quality service than if you have a criminal record. Your customers usually aren’t requesting a background check on you. For this reason, programs like Inmates to Entrepreneurs—which was founded by entrepreneur Brian Hamilton and offers classes taught exclusively by business owners—are important for training second chance entrepreneurs.
Another way we can build systems that allow for real second chances is by supporting fair chance hiring. This means looking at what someone can bring to the table today—not the worst mistake they made in the past. The Second Chance Business Coalition offers resources to employers who want to take that step. The Fair Chances Coalition also promotes inclusive hiring and helps break down the stigma of a criminal record.
If we’re serious about justice, then we need to be serious about reintegration. People reoffend not because they want to, but because the path to a better life is full of locked doors. And we’re the ones holding the keys.
Second chances only matter if they come with real opportunity. That means shifting our thinking from punishment to possibility—and making room in our workplaces, communities and policies for people to start again.
We’ve moved beyond public hangings. Let’s make sure we keep moving forward.
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Josh Nowack is the Chief Development Officer at Inmates to Entrepreneurs, an organization that helps people who’ve been judicially involved start their own businesses. Inmates to Entrepreneurs has been featured on Good Morning America and inspired the ABC television series Free Enterprise. A second chance entrepreneur himself, Josh is also the owner of Breaking Free Industries, a screen printing company in Southern California.
