SLASH EXPLAINS.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS THOSE CHARGED WITH NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, A CHANCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND RATHER THAN SERVING TIME.

COOK COUNTY IS GIVING PEOPLE ANOTHER OPTION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ SHARES HOW THE INITIATIVE IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND JOBS AND HE'LL.

>> NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE.

GROWING UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND HERMOSA MAKES ME FEEL VERY PROUD.

HE'S ONE OF THEM.

MIGHT.

>> 28 YEAR-OLD MICHAEL'S MODERNA'S HAS BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY MY CASEWORKER BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED ME A THE PROGRAM DID WORK WITH ME.

ON US IS ONE OF 16 PEOPLE GRADUATED FROM THE AV RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COMMITTEE COURT PROGRAM.

IT'S A COOK COUNTY INITIATIVE HELPING PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

GET A CLEAN SLATE.

A LOT OF MY CASES ARE A THINGS.

>> AND A LOT OF THEM CARRY THAT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY'RE SCARED.

>> NOT TO HAVE IT WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING SO THEY USE IT FOR PROTECTION.

BUT ON US AS HE GOT CAUGHT IN THE SITUATION WHILE AT WORK CARRYING A GUN WITHOUT A PROPER LICENSE.

SO ACTUALLY JUST GOT A GUN CASE DISMISSED.

>> WORK AS A TOW TRUCK DRIVERS.

SO I GOT ROBBED AT GUNPOINT.

IT THE WRONG WAY OF JUST CARRYING A GUN.

THEY GOT ME WITH THAT.

THEY PUT ME INTO THIS CASE.

THIS THE PROGRAM CAN LAST UP TO A YEAR WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE VARIOUS COURSES.

>> LIKE 21 YEAR-OLD JAMAL RUFFIN, WHO SAYS HIS COURSEWORK TAUGHT HIM MORE ABOUT GUN LAWS.

RIGHT AT THIS CASE IS MISS OUT AND MAYBE HALF A MILE FOR GAME.

I CAN SEE I HAD TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

JUST WANT TO SAY THIS WAS A GOOD PROGRAM.

>> HELPED ME GET ON TRACK.

RUFFIN AND ON US HAVE NOW HAD THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED AND RECORDS EXPUNGED.

>> CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE BEATRICE DOUGLAS SAYS IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR REPORT TRYING PUNISH THE PERSON YOU'RE WITH TRYING TO RESTORE AND HAVE THEM GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BETTER THAN THEY WERE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM.

ONE LESS PERSON IN THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT JUDGE SOMETHING WILL SAYS.

SHE LOVES ABOUT HER WORK.

IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH AS IT PERSON OF AND THEN TO HAVE THAT CONVICTION AS IT'S PUT ON A SAYS THE PROGRAM HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HIS FUTURE.

MY GOAL IS NOT TO GET ANY PROBLEMS AND JUST CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES, I'M