The Second Chance Club

Hardship and Hope After Prison

By: Jason Hardy

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

A former parole officer shines a bright light on a huge yet hidden part of our justice system through the intertwining stories of seven parolees striving to survive the chaos that awaits them after prison in this illuminating and dramatic book.

Prompted by a dead-end retail job and a vague desire to increase the amount of justice in his hometown, Jason Hardy became a parole officer in New Orleans at the worst possible moment. Louisiana’s incarceration rates were the highest in the US and his department’s caseload had just been increased to 220 “offenders” per parole officer, whereas the national average is around 100. Almost immediately, he discovered that the biggest problem with our prison system is what we do—and don’t do—when people get out of prison.

Deprived of social support and jobs, these former convicts are often worse off than when they first entered prison and Hardy dramatizes their dilemmas with empathy and grace. He’s given unique access to their lives and a growing recognition of their struggles and takes on his job with the hope that he can change people’s fates—but he quickly learns otherwise. The best Hardy and his colleagues can do is watch out for impending disaster and help clean up the mess left behind. But he finds that some of his charges can muster the miraculous power to save themselves. By following these heroes, he both stokes our hope and fuels our outrage by showing us how most offenders, even those with the best intentions, end up back in prison—or dead—because the system systematically fails them. Our focus should be, he argues, to give offenders the tools they need to re-enter society which is not only humane but also vastly cheaper for taxpayers.

As immersive and dramatic as Evicted and as revelatory as The New Jim Crow, The Second Chance Club shows us how to solve the cruelest problems prisons create for offenders and society at large.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Jacques Roy inhabits the conversational style, quiet anger, and wry humor of Jason Hardy's memoir of working as a probation officer in New Orleans. Hardy was responsible for more than 200 cases at a time—an impossible task—but he focuses on seven individuals with convictions related to illegal drugs. The author recognizes his privileges in the game of life—all he had to do was show up, work hard, and say 'thank you.' But these men and women had fewer opportunities growing up and now, with a criminal record, they struggle even more to access decent paying jobs, health care, and basic shelter. Roy employs a slightly sardonic tone overlaid with a constant note of empathy that expertly matches Hardy's prose. Hardy presents an important argument for American society providing second chances to ex-offenders."

Absolutely outstanding

Phenomenal book. The audio performance is great too. As someone who occasionally interfaces with the P&P system, this turned out to be a must read.

Great representation of P&P

This is what life looks like at probation and parole - good and bad.

excellent story for those interested in subject

I really enjoyed this story. I'm very interested in prison life. I think it's the most abominable way to live. I'm interested in how people put themselves there, and how they get out. and I'm interested specifically in what they do to not get themselves there again. fascinating stuff. not crazy about the narration. there's something about his voice, the cadence of it or something, just didn't care for it. luckily I was able to get past that and enjoy the story. thank you.

Important Perspective for Criminal Justice Reform

This book should be read by all Probation and Parole Officers. As someone who has worked in this industry as well as policing for over 23 years, his perspective is absolutely essential in enacting meaningful and possible reforms. Although I disagree with some of his deductions and feelings towards the “West Coast”, I found everything he wrote about incredibly insightful. It is an easy to listen to audiobook that can almost feel like a podcast at times with the story telling. Overall, fantastic and fascinating story that deserves a larger audience.