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State prisons are plagued by chaos, staff shortages, and the inhumane treatment of incarcerated people. But there’s another way.

One of us was incarcerated for 24 years and now leads a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local communities. The other leads a seminary that offers a master’s degree in education to New Yorkers behind bars.

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Both as community leaders and as people of faith who have witnessed the injustices of mass incarceration, we know that second chances make New York stronger. When the legislative session starts, lawmakers should pass the Second Look Act, which would enable people serving extreme sentences to receive an opportunity for an earlier release.

Take it from us, two people with extensive but vastly different experiences with the criminal legal system: The Second Look Act can make prisons safer — and strengthen local communities.

One of us learned that from behind prison walls. I, Mujahideen, was sentenced to 25 years to life when I was just 19 years old. I was raised in a family that struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, and I developed a conduct disorder. While in prison, I took a hard look at my life. Like so many incarcerated people, I decided that I wanted to rejoin the outside world with the skills and tools to be a helpful, productive member of my community. So I poured myself into education and my Muslim faith.

In 2024, thanks to a landmark program for incarcerated people started by the New York Theological Seminary, I received my master of professional........

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