Please respond to the following discussion post from two of my classmates with 150
words EACH, 2 references EACH and a biblical viewpoint.
the original post is: Topic: The Second Chance Act
Thread: It is often difficult for offenders to adjust after incarceration. The Second Chance
Act rejects the notion that recidivism reduction is best achieved through deterrent threats
alone. Explain the Second Chance Act, and defend your views on how recidivism
reduction can best be achieved.
Replies: Assume that you fully support the Second Chance Act when responding to two
of your classmates.
1) Neill- The Second Chance Act was created to aid offenders with reentry into society
after incarceration. This Act "supports state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit
organizations in their work to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for people
returning from state and federal prisons, local jails, and juvenile facilities" (NRRC, 2020).
While relief funds were allocated to help provide access to services, I believe the real
issue lies within society's mindset towards deviancy and incarceration.
Our society has a bad habit of judging others, placing damaging labels onto others who
have a different lifestyle or culture than them. Turning on the television at any point
during the day will give anyone a good understanding on how this country thinks. The
government can give money to help offenders enroll in therapy, drug rehab and group
meetings to attempt to deter them from offending again, but not much action has been
taken to fix the offender's society. Now, I am not condoning criminal behavior, but I do
believe everyone deserves forgiveness. If an offender responds to the other deterrents
(incarceration, court ordered services, etc), he could still be set up for failure within his
community. We tend to write off those who have been incarcerated, deciding they will
forever be a criminal and will never change.
There are a few ways how we can reduce recidivism. One suggestion is to provide
educational progression while incarcerated. Studies have shown that "inmates who took
part in educational programs while incarcerated had a 43 percent lower chance of
recidivism than inmates that did not participate in educational programs" (Jackson, 2020).
Incarceration does not only effect those who are behind bars, but their families and the
next generation. Children raised in a home where their parents or primary family
members have been incarcerated are forced into another perspective and lifestyle than
most of their peers. Studies have shown that "socioeconomic disadvantage, crime, and
incarceration in the current generation undermine the stability of family life and material
support for children. As adults, these children will be at greater risk of diminished life
chances and criminal involvement, and at greater risk of incarceration as a result"
(Western & Pettit, 2010).
Our country should seek to lower crime and incarceration, not seek for more. We should
turn our focus and our money towards methods designed to reduce crime, decrease
incarceration, and increase rehabilitation. Many people who commit crimes are labeled
by society as black sheep, and destined for their lives to circle around chaos and crime.
Instead, we should try to help them move forward and achieve their goals.
Resources:
Jackson, S. (2020, April). 4 Proven Ways to Reduce Recidivism. Retrieved May 21,
2021, from https://www.trendwyoming.org/articles/proven-ways-...
NRRC. (2020). Second Chance Act. Retrieved May 21, 2021,
from https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/second-c...
Western, B., & Pettit, B. (2020). Incarceration & social inequality. Retrieved May 21,
2021, from https://www.amacad.org/publication/incarceration-s...
2) Stone- In 2004, President George W. Bush said, “America is the land of the second
chance, and when the gates of the prison open, that path ahead should lead to a better
life,” this led to The Second Chance Act. The Second Chance Act was a bipartisan act of
2007 that expanded reentry services for periople that are leaving prison and return to
society, (Gideon and Sung, 2011). This act is the first piece of legislation that attempted
to address the multitude of problems that offenders face during and after incarceration.
Once The Second Chance Act passed, it provided millions of dollars into rehabilitation,
reentry, and reintegration programs for prisoners. The Second Chance Act also had the
potential to save taxpayers millions of dollars. It would do this by reducing recidivism
rates and lowers arrest and incarceration rates. The act also encouraged collaboration of
the criminal justice, public health, and social service systems. (Gideon and Sung, 2011).
When it comes down to it, the Second Chance Act, provided different support outlets for
prisoners who were being reintroduced into society. This included jobs, education, and
drug treatment. The Second Chance Act aimed to improve society in a whole.
I believe the best way to reduce recidivism, is by proper rehabilitation. I am someone who
firmly believes that rehabilitation is possible for a lot of prisoners, but the prison system
needs to focus on it. There are some prisons that do a great job at this. There are prisons
that work on rehabilitating the prisoners, and teaching them a trade. This often helps
them when there are released. However, not all prisons do this. We need to look into the
mental health of prisoners, and their dependency on drugs and alcohol as well. Mental
health is something that needs taken seriously and support needs given to prisoners
while they are in prison and reintroduced into society. At the same time, there are prisons
that do not offer programs for prisoners who abuse drugs and alcohol. If prisons offered
them the support that they needed during their time, and were given the support during
reentry, it would help reduce recidivism rates.
References:
Gideon, L., & Sung, H. (2011). Rethinking Corrections Rehabilitation, Reentry, and
Reintegration. Sage
1
Discussion Responses
Student’s Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
Course:
Date:
2
Discussion Responses
Dear Neil,
I agree with you that the second chance act is one of the most important acts developed to
address deviancy and incarceration. We have a social habit of judging people and labeling them
based on their cultures and lifestyles. Incarceration is meant to deter the deviant behavior of a
person. However, it is true that even if an offender responds well to these deterrents, it is possible
to fail in society. This is because our society believes that criminals will never change. Providing
education is one of the best to reduce recidivism (Jackson, 2020). This opens a window for a
second chance for the inmates once they are out of incarceration.
From a biblical point of view, God is a God of chances. Jesus came so that sinners could
have a second chance, and he is still around to give sinners a second chance, wash away their
sins, and make them whole again. Therefore, I agree with your conclusion that we should seek to
reduce crime and incarceration so that we can help criminals to move forward.
4
Dear Stone,
One thing that stood out in this discussion is the declaration by President George Bush
that America is a country of a second chance. After incarceration, people face problems of
rejection which affect their reentry and reintegration into society. The second chance act
provided a basis for reducing recidivism and improve the whole society. Your discussion post
highlighted different methods of reducing recidivism, but the most important was rehabilitation. I
believe that it is easy to rehabilitate prisoners through education and jobs rather than word of
mouth. Prisons should be equipped with effective tools and programs that help prisoners to
recover from mental health problems and drug use so that they can learn skills that will help
them once they are reintroduced in society.
The bible holds that if you repent genuinely, God will give you a second chance.
Rehabilitation is like repenting and welcoming God into your life through a sense of decision-
making. Giving a second chance to a criminal provides them with dignity and gives them a
chance to achieve their potential as contributing members of society.
5
References
Gideon, L., & Sung, H. (2011). Rethinking Corrections Rehabilitation, Reentry, and
Reintegration. Sage
1
Discussion Responses
Student’s Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
Course:
Date:
2
Discussion Responses
Dear Neil,
I agree with you that the second chance act is one of the most important acts developed to
address deviancy and incarceration. We have a social habit of judging people and labeling them
based on their cultures and lifestyles. Incarceration is meant to deter the deviant behavior of a
person. However, it is true that even if an offender responds well to these deterrents, it is possible
to fail in society. This is because our society believes that criminals will never change. Providing
education is one of the best to reduce recidivism (Jackson, 2020). This opens a window for a
second chance for the inmates once they are out of incarceration.
From a biblical point of view, God is a God of chances. In the book of Judges 16 verse
28 to 30, Samson asked God for a second chance and was able to take revenge on Palestines.
Jesus came so that sinners could have a second chance, and he is still around to give sinners a
second chance, wash away their sins, and make them whole again. Therefore, I agree with your
conclusion that we should seek to reduce crime and incarceration so that we can help criminals to
move forward.
4
Dear Stone,
One thing that stood out in this discussion is the declaration by President George Bush
that America is a country of a second chance. After incarceration, people face problems of
rejection which affect their reentry and reintegration into society. The second chance act
provided a basis for reducing recidivism and improve the whole society. Your discussion post
highlighted different methods of reducing recidivism, but the most important was rehabilitation. I
believe that it is easy to rehabilitate prisoners through education and jobs rather than word of
mouth. Prisons should be equipped with effective tools and programs that help prisoners to
recover from mental health problems and drug use so that they can learn skills that will help
them once they are reintroduced in society.
The bible holds that if you repent genuinely, God will give you a second chance. In
Mathew chapter three verse eight, the bible says that we bear fruits in keeping with repentance.
Rehabilitation is like repenting and welcoming God into your life through a sense of decision-
making. Giving a second chance to a criminal provides them with dignity and gives them a
chance to achieve their potential as contributing members of society.
5
References
Gideon, L., & Sung, H. (2011). Rethinking Corrections Rehabilitation, Reentry, and
Reintegration. Sage
Yancey, P., & Stafford, T. (2011). NIV, Student Bible, eBook. Zondervan.
