Young Black men often don’t get second chances in the U.S. criminal justice system—but a new pilot program in Cuyahoga County is trying to change that.

Take Andrew Hogan, for example. He was just 20 when he and his date were approached by the police. There was an illegal gun in his car, and that got him locked up. Andrew admits he knew he wasn’t old enough to legally have a gun, but he felt like he needed it to protect himself. After the arrest, he started to lose hope—he was facing serious charges and even lost his job.

But then Andrew was referred to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Violence Intervention Program—aka VIP. It’s a new program designed to help young people caught with a gun that hasn’t been used in a crime. Instead of punishment, the program offers a shot at redemption: support, a path to clear their record, and a fresh start.

VIP was launched by Judge Brendan J. Sheehan, who also oversees it. In this episode, he explains that the goal is to keep young, nonviolent offenders from ending up as gun violence or homicide statistics. The program brings in peer mentors, trauma counselors, and job placement help—all focused on helping young men, ages 18 to 26, from Cleveland neighborhoods hit hardest by gun violence.

The program runs on a three-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. While many violence intervention programs across the country have seen their funding cut recently, VIP has been lucky—its funding is still intact. That said, some of its key partners are facing cuts, including the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, which is run by our podcast co-host Myesha Watkins.

View our full list of resources here.

Have you or someone you know been impacted by gun violence? Or do you have any thoughts about what was shared in today’s episode? Share your story for a chance to be featured on the show!

S2E8: A Second Chance