Second Chances Take All of Us: Support for the Justice-Involved

Collaboration, dignity, and community support were at the center of this month’s alliance meeting as local leaders gathered to discuss how Johnson County can better support justice-involved individuals and families working toward stability and success.

The meeting brought together partners from across the community, including law enforcement, juvenile services, healthcare, the court system, and local organizations, to highlight how collective impact creates lasting change.

Kerry opened the conversation by emphasizing the purpose behind the work of the 100 Families Initiative: building stronger systems of support through collaboration, wraparound services, and shared responsibility.

Through the collaborative case management software HopeHub, partners are able to connect more effectively, track data, and ensure families are receiving the support they need across multiple systems. New partnership tools, including resource cards for the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department to pair with pouch cards, are helping frontline responders connect individuals to help faster and more efficiently.

“Every piece matters,” Kerry shared. “Everyone in this room contributes to forward movement within the community and the families we work with.”

That theme of collective responsibility carried throughout the panel discussion.

Clay McCall, Circuit Judge Elect for the 5th Judicial District, spoke passionately about the importance of Smart Justice Services and reducing stigma surrounding justice-involved individuals.

“[Smart Justice Services] is near and dear to my heart, and I hope it expands and thrives in the future,” McCall said.

He challenged the community to separate individuals from the circumstances they may be facing—particularly when addiction or other barriers are involved.

“There’s stigma related to the individual versus the situation,” he explained. “We need to see the individual and give them value.”

McCall also pointed to education as one of the biggest places where the system falls short. Rather than simply reacting to problems, he emphasized the need to walk alongside people, helping them build skills and understand healthier pathways forward.

"We need to teach people how to fish,” he said. “Educate people on a better way versus a generational thought process.”

Using the analogy of a toolbox, he encouraged the community to stay flexible and resourceful, especially when working with juveniles.

“If you can open the toolbox, you can use the tools inside to fix the problem—and if one tool doesn’t work, find a new one.”

Kristi Robertson, Juvenile Intake Officer for Johnson County, shared that trust is one of the most important foundations when working with youth and families.

“Establishing trust and letting the kids know we are there to support and provide resources” is where real progress begins, she said.

Rather than focusing only on the offense, Robertson stressed the importance of understanding why a young person is in the system and what barriers may be contributing to the situation.

“Look at why the individual is there and how the resources in the community can help.”

She also emphasized that successful reentry and long-term stability require working with the entire family—not just the individual.

“We need to work with the children and their family members to maintain stability.”

Clarksville Police Chief David Smothers shared his vision for stronger outreach and better communication between law enforcement and the public.

With a focus on deputy training and community engagement, Smothers acknowledged that law enforcement must continue learning how to respond to people in crisis with both safety and compassion.

“Law enforcement doesn’t always know what to do in certain crises, and we want to learn,” he said.

While public safety remains the top priority, he stressed that officers must also be equipped to connect people with resources and support systems.

“Our deputies must relearn how to communicate with the public, share information, and engage with them,” Smothers said. “There is a need for public safety, and that is what the public wants to see—but we must also stress to our deputies that they need to talk with the public about the programs available to them."

Brittany Fugate, Chief Operating Officer of Eaton Agency LLC, highlighted the connection between healthcare, stability, and long-term success.

“I believe healthcare is fundamental to individual success,” she said. “When people are given the opportunity to succeed, we all succeed.”

She encouraged the group to think “upstream”—addressing root causes before crisis occurs. Many juveniles facing challenges, she explained, are often carrying the weight of instability at home. While family dynamics can be part of the issue, access to strong community resources often determines whether someone rises or falls.

“People will rise or fall based on their access to support.”

Fugate emphasized the importance of treating every person with dignity and building trust that allows them to reach out before—or even after—they hit rock bottom.

“We treat every individual with dignity and trust. When they struggle, we can support them. Building that trust makes them comfortable enough to reach out to us.”

The meeting concluded with Clarksville Mayor David Reider signing a proclamation officially declaring April as Second Chance Month for the City of Clarksville.

Second Chance Month, launched by Prison Fellowship, is recognized nationwide each April to raise awareness about the barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and to encourage communities to support successful reentry.

The proclamation serves as a public commitment that second chances matter—and that restoration requires all of us. Whether through courts, law enforcement, healthcare, schools, or community partnerships, the message was clear: no single organization can do this work alone.

It takes trust. It takes collaboration. It takes all of us.

Because when individuals are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, the entire community moves forward together.