COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sometimes, getting a second chance is hard.
What You Need To Know
- The “Road to Second Chances Prayer Walk” was held on Saturday at the Ohio Statehouse
- Several dozen people prayed and rallied for those with a criminal record who are trying to reenter society
- They also provided opportunities for second chance hiring, housing, and other resources to help people who were previously incarcerated or have a criminal record
Several dozens of people rallied on Saturday to show their solidarity toward those reentering society.
They’re calling it the “Road to Second Chances Prayer Walk.”
Richard Swiger knows a lot about second changes.
“I shouldn’t even be here,” said Swiger. “There are people that are still locked up that I have done way less than me.
Swiger’s 54 now, but a third of his life was spent behind bars.
After his first felony arrest at age 13 and losing his dad in an arson three years later, Swiger took it hard.
“That kind of spun me into a life of addiction, anger doing my own way, doing what I want,” said Swiger.
For years, he was stuck in a toxic lifestyle, spending more time behind bars for more crimes he committed. After a five-year prison stint, he got out, but was back behind bars again, and this time spending nine more years in prison.
He nearly lost all hope, but something turned his life around.
“Going through the Medina County jail in 2002,” said Swiger. “I began to be impact by the chaplains Susan and Larry Jarvis. It began with them investing time and energy and truth into me. One of the truths they impacted me with was to understand that I had been comparing myself to everyone around me. Sure, I’ve made some mistakes, but I’m not the real bad guy here. I’m not as bad as the guy down the street.”
And its those conversations that started opening his eyes.
Though Swiger can’t take back his years behind bars, he’s now changing his story, sharing a message of hope to those formerly behind bars.
“What we need to do now for second chances is to assign dignity to people and every person needs to have a voice and their story heard,” said Swiger. “We need to stop closing the door of opportunity to people who have earned the right to a second chance. Those that are coming out of prison need to be able to get jobs. They need to have resources. They need to be able to go to churches, and churches need to not shut their doors.”
