our mission
our vision
ABOUT THE PROBLEM
Every year, 600,000+ people return home ready to work, reconnect with family, and contribute—yet too often they meet closed doors.
Most people return with trauma, debt, and no safety net. Nearly 60% leave without stable housing, and more than 70% struggle to find work in the first year. A criminal record blocks access to housing, jobs, and even basic care, while two-thirds carry untreated mental health or substance-use needs.
At the same time, they’re navigating strict terms and expectations with little support. The result is predictable: without real help, people are pushed back toward the system instead of into stable, healthy life in the community.
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE:
WORK
Unemployment above 27% among people with records limits stability even when they’re job‑ready.
HOUSING
Background checks and blanket bans block access; policy changes aim to reduce automatic denials.
HEALTH
High rates of mental‑health and substance‑use needs require coordinated, affordable care.
STABILITY
Without support, contact with the justice system often continues; strong services help break that cycle.
our story
Told by Adam Levin. Founder
I started Second Chance Services with a simple belief: everyone deserves a real second chance — and I say that as someone who needed one.
How it really began
I never expected to be navigating the justice system. A DOJ investigation led to a plea agreement, and suddenly my life was full of fear, questions, and unknowns. I didn’t know who to trust or where to turn. A lot of people offered help; very few actually showed up. It was isolating and confusing.
What changed everything
In the middle of that storm, I turned to my faith and began reaching out to people who had walked this path before me. Mentors—friends, family friends, even friends of friends—shared practical advice and hard-earned wisdom.
Their guidance became my lifeline. That experience taught me something simple and profound:
community plus clear next steps is what turns panic into a plan.
The obstacles I hit (and why we built what we built)
Even everyday things became complicated. My credit cards were canceled without explanation. Bank accounts were closed. I lost TSA PreCheck and dealt with extra scrutiny at airports. Therapy—something that had always helped me—suddenly missed the mark because it wasn’t built for justice-impacted realities. If this was my experience—with a network and resources—what happens to someone who has neither?
what we do
Why Second Chance Services exists
SCS is my answer to that question. We help people at every stage: when an investigation begins, while awaiting sentencing, during reentry, and long after. We meet people with dignity, zero judgment, and consistent follow-through—and we do it at no cost.
What we offer (and why it matters)
Mentorship: steady guidance and accountability from people who understand. Therapy pathways: trauma-informed mental-health support that fits real circumstances. Financial coaching: budgeting, credit repair basics, and practical stability steps. Employment support: resumes, applications, and connections to opportunities. Peer groups: a community where experience becomes encouragement.
What I wont you to know
Second chances aren’t theoretical to me—they’re personal. I built the organization I needed back then: real people, real answers, and a plan that turns intention into progress. If you’re in the middle of all this, you don’t have to do it alone. We’ll walk with you—one step, one call, one appointment at a time—until things feel steady again.
With gratitude,
Adam Levin
Founder, Second Chance Services
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Helen
Therapy, Support Group & Career Coaching
"From the first call, I felt understood and encouraged. Adam and his team were so easy to work with, approachable, respectful, and genuinely invested in my future. I felt zero judgment, only support and a clear path forward."
Nadia
Therapy, Support Group & Mentor Support
"I came to SCS feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Therapy helped me make sense of what I'd been carrying; the support group reminded me I wasn’t alone; and my mentor walked me through every step of rebuilding my resume and interviewing with confidence. Today I have a job I’m proud of and a community I can lean on. SCS didn’t just point me forward, they walked with me."
Jeff
Therapy, Support Group & Career Coaching
“Before SCS, every application felt like it vanished into a void. Adam, Natalia, and my HR mentor, Tatondra, offered steady, human guidance that cut through the noise and helped me move with clarity. For the first time, I had human help in my corner instead of trying to figure it all out alone.”
