Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘District of Second Chances’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Gene Downing in Wynette Yao’s DISTRICT OF SECOND CHANCES.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary feature, ‘District of Second Chances’.
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When we are young, we are taught… that the American legal system is a true sight to behold, and there is merit to that line of teaching. After all, we stand by the notion that all are innocent until proven guilty, in a court of law by their peers no less. So that other people give their objective views to the case at hand, so the right verdict and the right punishment is reached. So, we soldier forth in this life, truly believing that the system is infallible, and its structure is sound, only for us to learn… that the American legal system is not all that it is cracked up to be. It could be through a personal experience with the system or through outside observation… but one way or another we come to see its flaws and find ourselves concerned. Because such a truth informs us, that a broken system brings about broken verdicts and that justice isn’t properly being served and well, a deeper dive not only confirms that, but that there are other problems present within this supposedly glorious system.

Such as the fact that more often than not, any chance to throw a violent offender into jail for as long as possible, is the norm for sentences. Which makes no sense, because the prison system isn’t supposed to be long-term housing, it is to be a rehabilitation center, to have violent offenders pay their dues and rejoin society. But somehow it became the opposite, and there are now people… who learned from their mistakes and are eager to pay it forward and pay back their debt to society as needed… stuck in prison. Where they can do nothing but languish and lament and wonder and thankfully… these issues are being recognized and slowly addressed. For there are laws out there now, that work to help people in that situation get their proper due and get a chance to return to the everyday world, and there are programs in place to help them cope and find new direction when they do get out.

But sadly, there isn’t much discussion out there about Second Chances laws and what they can do, nor is there much discussion about how they could help enact change in the system and help people that are ready to rejoin society do so, but that is starting to change. For a new documentary out there not only explores the benefits of these laws but puts faces on the struggle of those trying desperately to set right their wrongs. A feat that District of Second Chances accomplishes, by introducing us to three men, Anthony ‘Pete’ Petty, Colie Levar Long, and Gene Downing, who are in various stages of working with the Second Chances laws present in Washington D.C. Which are indeed designed to look at certain cases of individuals that committed violent crimes and were given giant sentences, to see if they deserve another shot at life in the regular world, because they are in fact… rehabilitated.

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Which really is the perfect way to showcase the flaws of our judicial system and the importance of these laws. Because we come to learn through Pete, Colie, and Gene… how the system failed them. Courtesy of ridiculous bias at the time they were sentenced, bias that still exists today and it is important to showcase that. Because justice is supposed to be impartial and we don’t call out enough that it isn’t and it hasn’t been for a very long time, so this documentary deserves a round of applause for speaking that truth, and for deeply exploring the inner workings of how these men found themselves locked away and forgotten, and the dangerous struggles they encountered on their way out of the broken system that exists. Because it truly allows for a grand discussion to take place regarding the need for reforms and laws such as these so that others don’t have to struggle in the manner that these gentlemen did.

But while that does make for some fascinating learning about our legal system and it's unfortunate but fixable flaws… what truly makes this documentary so powerful, is in the humanity it showcases. Because getting to spend time with Petey, Collie, and Gene… allows for us to understand, that not all violent offenders and criminals are the monsters they are portrayed to be. They’re people. People that yes, committed a crime and were convicted, but are people none the less. Who really did make a poor choice out of the folly of youth and the environment that surrounded them. But harbor remorse, harbor an understanding of how their crime was wrong and how it impacted lives, and why they need to atone for it. Which is something we don’t see often in film, but it is necessity, because it hammers home the reality that we can learn from our mistakes and pay it forward and do right.

Which we see happen often in this story, and that is inspiring and powerful. Because it speaks to the reality that with some genuine care and deep reforms, we can in fact, create a justice system that does what it is supposed to. All of which makes this, a poignant and important documentary. One that really does go bold places that no other documentary about the legal system goes, in an honest and objective manner. Which is also important to showcase since now and again you run into documentaries that want to push an agenda. But Director Wynette Yao and Cinematographer Travis Edwards simply capture the reality of our legal system in 2023. Where people that are embracing the error of their ways and are desperate for a chance to repay their debt, are fighting tooth and nail to do so. Courtesy of a broken system that is in desperate need of reform so that it provides everyone with the second chance and fairness it promises.

To learn more about this documentary, check out our interview with Director/Producer Wynette Yao and Cinematographer/Editor Travis Edwards, here.

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