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You are receiving this newsletter because you are a member of the New York State Reentry Resource Center, a network of more than 2,800 advocates and direct service providers from all around the state. Each month, we bring you resource highlights, news, and policy updates from the online resource center.
Note: If your Internet browser blocks pop-ups, hold the Ctrl key while you click on individual resources to download them directly. Not displaying properly? Click here to view it on your browser.
*Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Cuts to ATI, Reentry Funding and SAMHSA’s Drug and Alcohol Programming*
Please call the governor, legislative leaders, public protection committee chairs and your Assembly member and senator and urge them to restore the proposed 8% cut to ATI, reentry and probation. These programs are essential to public safety and savings. For more information, see Legal Action Center's blog.
As well, please contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives today and ask them to oppose cuts to SAMHSA in FY 2011. If SAMHSA is cut, New Yorkers who need services to prevent and recover from alcohol and other drug problems won’t get the help they need. Click here for more information.
*Resource Highlights*
Coming Home: A Resource Guide for Reentrants and Their Families: The Upper Manhattan Reentry Task Force has updated its resource guide for individuals returning home after incarceration, and their families. The guide contains listings of many organization providing services including employment, housing, education, health, and legal services.
Using Consumer Law to Combat Criminal Record Barriers to Employment and Housing Opportunity: Article published in the Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy summarizes the consequences of the widespread use of criminal background checks. The article uses actual client stories to show ways that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) can provide legal services advocates with avenues to prevent the improper use of criminal records to deny individuals basic needs such as housing and employment. The article also uses New York law as an example to demonstrate the interplay between federal and state laws to maximize remedies for clients.
Ensuring Compliance With Padilla v. Kentucky Without Compromising Judicial Obligations - Why Judges Should Not Ask Criminal Defendants About Their Citizenship/Immigration Status: In Padilla v. Kentucky, the Supreme Court confirmed that criminal defendants have a right to advice from counsel about the potential immigration consequences of their convictions, and that failure to provide such advice may constitute ineffective assistance of counsel, in violation of the Sixth Amendment. This advisory created by the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic in collaboration with the Immigrant Defense Project outlines the constitutional, statutory, and ethical reasons that judges should not solicit or otherwise require defendants to disclose, orally or in writing, their citizenship/immigration status when that status is not a material element of the offense with which they are charged.
Treatment Behind Bars: Substance Abuse Treatment in New York State Prisons, 2007-2010: This report by The Correctional Association is the first-ever comprehensive review of the State's prison-based substance abuse treatment programs. The report culminates a three-year study conducted by the CA's Prison Visiting Project with major findings in the system's programs.
Visit Reentry Net/NY Issue Modules: Visit Reentry Net's modules on Employment & Licensing, Housing and Discharge Planning. These modules serve as a starting point for accessing the resources available on Reentry Net, and direct users the most useful and frequently accessed resources from the Library.
Remember to visit our Monthly Mailing Archive for highlighted reports, toolkits, and training materials from the past year.
*Upcoming Events*
Rally Outside Spofford to Demand The Repurposing of The Facility and Community Investments: Youth, community members and advocates will come together to rally outside of the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, currently known as Bridges. New York City has promised to close the facility by April 1, 2011. The Campaign is calling on Mayor Bloomberg to turn the site over to the community for positive repurposing. They are also calling on city and state legislators to protect funds for community-based alternatives to detention, alternatives to incarceration, and prevention programs. The Rally will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at 4PM. For more information, contact Avery Irons at dirons@cdfny.org
Getting the RAP Down - Employment Strategies for Job Seekers with Criminal Histories: For the 60,000 New Yorkers behind prison bars and tens of thousands more who pass through the courts, local jails, probation and parole each year, significant internal and external challenges often lock them into low-wage jobs -- or out of the job market altogether. This training program will provide concrete strategies and techniques to assist these job seekers to overcome numerous barriers to employment. To register or for more information, visit their website or contact Tina Pettigrew at tpettigrew@workforceprofessionals.org or 646-278-5685.
Certificate of Rehabilitation Clinic: The Fortune Society is hosting two clinics to assist formerly incarcerated people with the application process for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct on April 7 and April 11. The clinics are free but RSVP is required by Friday March 25. For more information or to RSVP, contact Nidia Cordova at ncordova@fortunesociety.org.
Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms - Success or Failure?: The historic Drug Law Reform Act of 2009 (DLRA) was passed after years of advocacy by defender organizations, criminal justice advocates, and drug and alcohol treatment providers. This program sponsored by the Council on Criminal Justice of NYC Bar Association will examine DLRA reforms -- including judicial diversion to treatment programs, resentencing, and conditional sealing -- from judicial, defense, and prosecution perspectives. The event is free and will be held on April 14 at 6 PM. Click here to register.
South Bronx Community Action Forum - Reducing Harm and Improving Lives: Join community members, advocates and organizations to help develop a public safety and health approach to drug policy in the South Bronx. The forum is open to the public and will be held on April 15 at 8:30 AM.
Remember to visit Reentry Net for full calendar listings and new job opportunities! Click here to subscribe to our Calendar's RSS feed.
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