Tom Schoolcraft’s Story of Transformation At LEAP, our board of directors comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds within the criminal justice system. This Second Chances Month, board member Tom Schoolcraft shares his story, highlighting the impact of being granted a true second chance. “I was 18 years old and had dropped out of school a couple of years earlier, searching for a way to kickstart my life toward success. However, with little respect for the rules, I took some shortcuts—or at least, that's what I thought they were. With little understanding of the future I would create for myself, I started stealing, which quickly escalated to burglarizing homes. 'It's fast money,' I thought, 'and I'm good at it.' But it wasn't long before I found myself in a situation I never wanted. By the end of summer 2004, I was charged with several felonies in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. My life as I knew it was over, and once I was sentenced to a year in jail, I knew my criminal record would define me for a very long time. Incarceration is not a glamorous thing to write about; it's honestly boring, and during my time, I mostly wondered and feared what life would be like upon release. Would I be able to find work? Was going back to school even an option? Could I still make something of myself, or was a life of crime all that was left? When I was released, I was given what I consider my first ‘Second Chance’—the opportunity to work selling cars. This was a relief, but after almost two years, I realized I wanted more; that ‘more’ for me was school. I was shocked that after opening up about my past, a college would accept me, but that was yet another ‘Second Chance’ that was granted to me, and it paid off. I was able to graduate with my BA in Psychology, and around that time, I even asked if I could volunteer in a local county jail. It was my way of trying to give back in some way for the things I had done. The jail allowed me not only to volunteer but to become an intern during my last semester of college. This was unreal to me, and yet the story hadn’t even started yet. Three weeks after my graduation, I was given the chance to work at that very jail as a corrections officer. I would go on to face many struggles in my career, but what is most important to highlight is that each opportunity led me to the path I am on today. Since then, I have completed my Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, received two Governor’s Pardons, and worked further in corrections, both on the security side and the reentry side of things. More recently, I was chosen to work on a project addressing the holistic safety of those who work and live at Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. I gave my first talk about this work at an international corrections conference and finally was asked to join the board of directors here at LEAP. I am passionate about this work and continue to bring my knowledge and experience to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, where I work to this day with those who are getting ready to leave prison and face many of the same struggles. The point of second chances is that without them, none of this was possible. I am not an exception to a rule; I was just someone who was willing to take a chance on myself when I saw others were willing to do the same. I hope that in your support of Second Chance Month, you remember that YOU are the one who makes stories like mine and so many others possible by what you do and the risks you take.” Tom's narrative is a compelling reminder of the transformative power of second chances and how vital our support can be in reshaping lives. |
