April is Second Chance Month. Yet for countless individuals coming home from prison, that rings hollow as many formerly incarcerated people are denied housing and employment due to their past.
Think about the worst thing you’ve ever done for a moment. Something you deeply regret. You may have unintentionally hurt someone or made a terrible mistake while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or power. Maybe you were with people you trusted.
Now imagine if that action branded you forever, regardless of your remorse, your efforts to atone for the damage you caused, or your good behavior.
Most people may never have to experience this burden, but those who have been convicted of a crime and served time do. They are branded permanently, and the shame is inescapable.
In the French novel “Les Misérables,” the main character Jean Valjean steals bread for his family and serves 19 years. Valjean has to reinvent himself as Monsieur Madeleine, a businessman-turned-mayor, in order to lead a productive life. The challenges that Valjean faces after he is released epitomizes the struggle that many formerly incarcerated people face upon reentry. The path to reintegration is often blocked by societal prejudice and systemic limitations, denying those who have served time access to essential needs like housing and employment.
In my experience, people are resilient and can rise above their circumstances. If given the opportunity and resources, people can succeed. Business leaders, athletes and politicians defy odds all the time. Nelson Mandela emerged from years of incarceration to help negotiate the end of South Africa’s apartheid.
Yet our current system places so many limitations and hurdles in front of formerly incarcerated people that they often end up homeless or back inside. We should do better.
As a program developer for the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network, I have worked with hundreds of individuals who have pursued education. They are not asking for special treatment. They’re seeking a fair chance to showcase their skills and experience for jobs they’re qualified for and a chance to prove they are more than their past. They desire to be seen for the person they are now, forged through resilience and hard work, not defined by past mistakes.
Human beings are complex and flawed, and life is a balance of good and bad. But, too often, those with a criminal record are denied a basic chance to demonstrate their growth.
Fair Chance laws, such as Washington State’s House Bill 1747, which was signed by the governor on April 21, will push background checks until after a conditional job offer has been given. Its passage would be a crucial step towards allowing genuine reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals.
But laws alone aren’t enough.
We need a fundamental shift in societal mindset, a collaborative effort beyond mandates. We need more businesses to follow the lead of companies like Dave’s Killer Bread, MOD Pizza, and Seattle’s own Spír Candle Co., which actively hire and uplift this overlooked talent pool. We need to develop a constellation of support: employers willing to give second chances, communities ready to accept them, and a systemic shift that values rehabilitation over perpetual punishment.
Second chances are not about blind forgiveness, especially for those who show no remorse. It’s about truly listening to the stories of those who desperately want to rebuild their lives. It’s about recognizing that most people, despite their mistakes, simply want the chance to contribute and thrive.
It’s about acknowledging that a single moment shouldn’t define a lifetime.
