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When it comes to reentry and second chances, one of the biggest mistakes we can make is believing that everyone impacted by the justice system needs the same type of support. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Each individual’s story is different. Their trauma, circumstances, and choices may overlap in theme, but never in detail. Some people carry the weight of addiction and generational poverty. Others made one irreversible mistake that altered the course of their lives. Some were caught up in unhealthy relationships or survival situations, while others were driven by pride, fear, or desperation.

Even their convictions tell only part of the story, and they are not all created equal.

A drug trafficking conviction will require a different conversation and level of support than an embezzlement conviction. One might face stigma tied to addiction or violence, while the other battles perceptions of dishonesty or mistrust. The barriers to employment, housing, and even family relationships are different for both, and so the path to stability must also look different.

Even within similar charges, context matters.

A drug charge in a school zone carries far heavier consequences than one outside it. It can impact where someone is eligible to live, what kind of job they can hold, and even their access to community resources. The same person convicted just one street over might have an entirely different reentry experience.

That’s why when we talk about preparing individuals for interviews, there can’t be a standard script.

Telling someone with a nonviolent offense to “own your story and move forward” might work for one person, but for another whose crime involved violence, addiction, or public trust, the same advice could backfire. Their approach must be tailored:

How they explain their conviction How they discuss the gap in employment How they demonstrate growth and accountability

Each of these requires individualized coaching, empathy, and strategy.

Explaining gaps in employment is another example. Some individuals can show a period of incarceration as a time of rehabilitation, earning certifications, completing treatment, or mentoring others. Others might have experienced homelessness, mental health crises, or unstable living conditions that can’t be summarized in a neat sentence. Each story deserves its own truth, not a rehearsed answer that doesn’t fit their reality.

This is why individualized plans are essential.

A cookie-cutter approach fails to recognize human complexity. It risks retraumatizing people, setting unrealistic expectations, or forcing them into boxes that don’t reflect who they are or what they’ve overcome.

True reintegration requires meeting people where they are, not where we think they should be. It means listening before advising. Understanding before judging. Supporting before expecting.

At Persevere, we’ve learned that transformation happens when we remove the labels – “felon,” “ex-offender,” “criminal” – and start seeing the person. The father who wants to rebuild trust. The mother working to reunite with her children. The young adult who wants to prove they are more than their past.

Second chances aren’t about uniformity, they’re about humanity.

Because real change isn’t mass-produced.

It’s handcrafted, one story, one plan, one person at a time.