A Second Chance

“Judge Frederic Block’s A Second Chance tells one of the most neglected stories in our criminal justice system—what happens to criminal defendants after they are sentenced to prison. The judge uses his unique perspective to tell several real stories from his own courtroom, all page-turners, about how he tried to strike the right balance. These are tough calls—and it’s a tough, smart book.”

—Jeffrey Toobin, author of Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right Wing Extremism

“A Second Chance is a first. Fred Block, a sitting U.S. federal judge, invites the reader to share the heavy burden of deciding who merits a reduction in sentence. And he shows how legislation supported by both the right and the left can alleviate the injustices of overly harsh federal sentencing practices. More importantly, Judge Block exposes stark injustice on the state level and offers a timely, sensible prescription for broad national reform.”

—Larry Thompson, former U.S. deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush

“In 2018, a nationwide pan-ideological coalition did the impossible: reform federal criminal justice through the First Step Act. Judge Fred Block has written a serious and fascinating book that invites the reader to see through a judge’s eyes how this law is applied in some very interesting cases. As the name of the legislation suggests, this was just a first step. Judge Block thus lays out his thoughts on what ‘second steps’ might be taken at the state level. There is, he argues persuasively, much yet to do.”

—Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform

“Most people know Judge Block from the courtroom. But to me he is my favorite storyteller. But what is truly unique about his new book, A Second Chance, is how he has cleverly and dramatically made the reader an integral part of this eye-opening exposé of our criminal justice system. And what an incredulous true story he has told about Stephen May!”

—Ryan Holiday, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Right Thing, Right Now

“Judge Frederic Block’s extraordinary book gives readers the unique opportunity to view post–First Step Act criminal sentencing through the eyes of the judges entrusted with these life-altering decisions. I appreciate his important work, both in and out of the courtroom, and look forward to engaging with his insightful observations and thoughtful ideas as America continues to grapple with what we want from our criminal justice system.”

—Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic leader

“In A Second Chance, Judge Block valiantly speaks out about injustice in the legal system and recommends commonsense, bipartisan reforms to sentencing. As someone who has spent years fighting for the rights of American workers to not be silenced—and succeeded in helping pass bipartisan laws—I join Judge Block’s call for making our legal system more just and more humane.”

—Gretchen Carlson, journalist, bestselling author, female empowerment advocate, and cofounder of Lift Our Voices

“A Second Chance is a testament to the power of the idea that, as Bryan Stevenson says, we are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Judge Block makes a passionate case for the First Step Act and other commonsense reforms from the invaluable perspective of someone responsible for impartially administering justice on our behalf. People possess the capacity to change—including those who have been imprisoned, castigated, and condemned—and Judge Block reminds us of what’s possible when they do.”

—Cory Booker, United States Senator