Christian: Thinking About My Thinking

What do second chances provide young people in our juvenile justice system?  During Second Chance Month, Administrator Liz Ryan of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, sat down with host Scott Larson, and guests Tristan, Nate and Kyle, to focus on their lived experience in the juvenile justice system, their vision for ever-better services and support, and the reality that many children at risk need first chances to help them stay out of the system altogether.   This document was prepared under Cooperative Agreement Number 15PJDP-23-GK-02210-SCAX from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

So many times, young people in the juvenile justice system begin living their labels. Labels like "born for trouble, slow learner, just like your father..." These labels have huge impact. In Ready4Life, Yvan discovered that the key to changing his situation was changing his mindset. BONUS: Hear one of Yvan's music tracks in the outro of this episode!

For youth who are leaving lock-up, the emphasis on all they things they must avoid in order to stay out of trouble can seem like a big list of "NO's". But when they have a vision for life, they have the opportunityt to say "YES" and move forward into a new future. In this episode, Kyle shares what it takes to pursue a vision in life.  Things like focus, commitment and trust.

Growing up, Christian didn't have many role models. He learned what he could from the streets he grew up on. When he participated in Ready4Life, he discovered that unresolved issues become repeat thought patterns. Today he's sharing what it means to make peace, let go, and forgive. Including a life-changing conversation with his mother.

Traumatic events in childhood left Alex wondering who he could trust. He started pushing people away to protect himself. It was a survival strategy that became a stronghold. Today he's challenging this stronghold and discovering new ways to navigate relationships.

Growing up, Kyle says he always had a goal in life, but never had a reason to follow it. Today he shares how Ready4Life helped him define his vision and discover the power of trust.

Joey was locked up at age 15, and remembers people saying things like "Joey Berry?!  Good luck with that kid!"  Not many people had faith in Joey at that time in his life -- but he'll never forget the few that did.  

"Even if you start wrong, you can finish strong.  When you look at my story, there’s really no ingredients for success. That’s what I want to let the world know, it doesn’t matter…there is redemption.”  Part 2 of an incredible conversation with Nickolas DeJarnette, successful businessman, job creator, speaker, husband, father…and an inspiration to anyone who hears his story. If you haven’t listened to part 1 of Episode 5, you may want to go back and start at the beginning.

Nick says that from his earliest memory, life played out like a cautionary tale rather than the preamble to an eventual success story. His formative years were the stuff of nightmares that included bouncing from youth care and foster homes to shoot-outs, prostitution and murder.  It wasn't long before Nick joined what he calls "the family business" and followed an example that had only one of two outcomes; prison or the mortuary.  Until an encounter with God changed everything.

Re-entry was rough for Durell. As he says “A lot of people were skeptical of me because I was released to the same community that I was just terrorizing.” But thanks to some good mentors, Durell experienced community that wasn’t criminal-related. Community that helped him live freely and purposefully.