BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — There’s a saying that everyone deserves a second chance, and there’s a program in Kern County that embodies that — perhaps for those who need it the most.

“I’ve been in the juvenile justice system since I was 13. All I knew was the streets and gangbanging because I was uneducated,” said Nicholas Miller. “I was uneducated for a long time until I met Jaubrae.”

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Jaubrae Dixon went to prison for nearly a decade when he was still a teenager for a gun charge.

“I found myself incarcerated at a young age, end up serving a total of nine years at the age of 17 years old for brandishing a firearm,” Dixon said.

Two years after his release, Dixon’s a different man. Now, he mentors young adults in his very position.

“By the grace of God, you know, through that experience, I was able to change my life,” Dixon said. “And so, to come home for the last two years and dedicate my life to being a part of the solution in the same way that I was once part of the problem.”

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Dixon attended Tuesday’s County Supervisors Meeting to proclaim Second Chances Month, part of a nationwide effort in the U.S. to raise awareness about barriers facing teenage Americans with criminal records.

It focuses on unlocking opportunities for housing, employment, and education and reducing recidivism by expunging the criminal records of young offenders with court approval.

“I was invited by Mr. Dixon, who has an incredible story of second chances,” said Alekxia Torees Stallings. “And we are so fortunate to be hosting him as one of our petitioners in the clinic, so naturally, he felt like it was a good connection to have the legal fields be a part of this, because we can help close that chapter in people’s lives.”

While a huge step, there still needs to be resources for people who have faced his situation after-the-fact, says Dixon.

“The resources aren’t in place, housing, transportation, jobs, and I think that, you know, Kern County, Bakersfield, moving in the right direction and having proclamations and partnering and collaborate,” Dixon said. “And I think that both in the writing, the resources, applying this proclamation, I think that would be the big step that we look forward to.”

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