Reframing the Picture: The Power of Imagery in Second Chance Stories

April is Second Chance Month — a time to celebrate the power of redemption, the possibility of renewal, and the importance of policy efforts that help people with past arrest or conviction records rebuild their lives. At The Clean Slate Initiative, our work is rooted in removing barriers for people who are impacted by the legal system so they can access jobs, housing, and opportunities that support strong families and safe communities.

Part of our work is storytelling: We consistently share stories about people who have been directly impacted by arrest and conviction records, stories about our work and the work of our partners, and stories about a brighter future for people in America with the help of Clean Slate policies. As we tell these stories of transformation and hope, we must be aware of how we’re telling them — and what images we’re using to do so.

Too often, media coverage, blog posts, and social media posts about legal system reform are accompanied by harmful, stereotypical imagery: people in handcuffs, behind bars, wearing prison uniforms, or being arrested. These images reduce people to the moment of their worst mistake. They reinforce stigma, perpetuate fear, and overshadow the humanity of individuals who are so much more than their records.

For the more than 70 million people in the U.S. who have an arrest or conviction record, these visual stereotypes can cause real harm. They can retraumatize. They can remind someone of the barriers they continue to face long after their sentence is over. And they can shape public perception in ways that undermine support for reform.

This Second Chance Month, we urge writers, reporters, advocates, and allies to think critically about the visuals they choose when sharing stories about justice-involved people and Clean Slate policies.

Here’s what we encourage instead:

• ‍Use empowering, humanizing imagery: Show people as they are — at work, with family, in community, pursuing their dreams. Use photos that reflect dignity, resilience, and the full spectrum of who someone is.‍
• Center Directly Impacted voices: Whenever possible, let people with lived experience guide how they are represented. Ask what images they feel tell their story.‍
• Avoid stock photos that criminalize: Steer clear of generic mugshots, courtroom sketches, or prison gates. These may be easy to find, but they’re lazy storytelling—and they come at a real cost.‍
• Tell the story of what’s next — not just what’s past: Clean Slate laws are about second chances. They’re about sealing records so that people can move forward. Let’s make sure our imagery reflects that forward momentum.

At The Clean Slate Initiative, we believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to rebuild and thrive. That belief doesn’t stop at the policies we advocate for — it extends to the narratives we shape and the images we share.

This month, and always, let’s be intentional. Let’s lift up the truth that people are more than their records. And let’s choose visuals that reflect the dignity, hope, and potential of the people who are affected by our work. Because how we see people shapes how we treat people.

The photos in the gallery above are examples of images that put people first, showcasing life beyond the barriers of a past arrest or conviction record. To download these images, click the button below. To find more images that represent people, not systems, here are some royalty-free stock image resources:

• Unsplash
• Pixabay
• Nappy
• Vice Gener Spectrum Collection
• Disabled and Here Collection