Second Skin Non-Profit
Second Skin is a privately funded organization whose mission is to help ex-offenders convicted of non-violent crimes better reintegrate into society through the removal of visible prison and gang tattoos. Located in San Francisco, the clinic is run by Dr. Jeannie Tsai, who has great experience in laser treatment and has had a private practice since 2001.
Prison and gang tattoos create difficulty for ex-offenders trying to start new lives after incarceration. Those with visible markers of gang affiliation often become the victims of violence once outside of the prison system. Often times, employers are reluctant to hire people with stigmatizing tattoos. Additionally, such reminders of the past create insecurity in many individuals.
Second Skin helps non-violent offenders to have better opportunities for employment, avoid violence, and experience increased self-esteem through the removal of their visible, stigmatizing tattoos.
The main entry requirements for the program are:
- The tattoo must be VISIBLE
- The tattoo must be prison or gang signifiers or otherwise stigmatizing
- The applicant must be actively involved in employment or education
- The applicant must show a demonstrated commitment to the program by contributing one hour of volunteer service per month to the clinic.
Second Skin hopes to make a difference in the lives of those on the path to making differences themselves. If you are interested in contributing to this program, please contact us. We are in need of a tattoo removal laser and transport about every 6-8 weeks. Please contact us if you are able to help!
Those interested in the program should ask his or her Parole Agent or Probation Officer (P.O.) to contact Second Skin at info@secondskin.org. We will send a preliminary questionnaire by mail, to be filled out by the applicant and signed by his or her P.O.
