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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 3,000 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.
*Resource Highlights*
On Your Own - Reentry Information and Resources in the Capital District- The Center for Law and Social Justice's 10th Edition of "On Your Own," a comprehensive guide for reentering individuals and their families. The guide includes an overview of legal issues and advice on reentry for individuals. In addition, it includes a directory of social service and legal organizations in the Capital Area (and statewide) that provide employment, career coaching, housing and other reentry assistance.
More Than a Job: Final Results from the Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Transitional Jobs Program - This report presents the final results of the evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). The three-year evaluation found that CEO substantially increased employment for participants early in the follow-up period but that the effects faded over time. CEO significantly reduced recidivism, with the most promising impacts occurring among a subgroup of formerly incarcerated participants who enrolled shortly after release from prison (the group that the program was designed to serve).
2011 New York City Council Human Rights Report Card Issue Brief: Access to Civil Legal Services - This issue brief on access to civil legal services is derived from information in the 2011 New York City Council Human Rights Report Card (Report Card) published by the Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center. This issue brief draws from and expands on the full Report Card to give a detailed look on access to civil legal services and how it was addressed in City Council. The brief highlights the fact that an increasing number of New Yorkers lack legal representation in a wide array of civil legal matters including evictions, foreclosures, child support matters, and consumer credit disputes. The brief also covers the City Council's response to address the problem.
*Decisions of Interest*
Court Grants Motion to Seal After Showing Unjust Injury Due to Availability of Non-Criminal Offense - Nassau County District Court grants motion to seal P.L. 240.20(7)(Disorderly Conduct), a violation, even though defendant had waived the right to seal the record of his conviction pursuant CPL §160.55 upon pleading guilty. The defendant, whose employment subjects him to frequent criminal background checks, stated that he was unaware that his record would be persistently available to potential employers. Defendant also provided a copy of his FBI arrest record which has been repeatedly "misread" as it appears that he was convicted of a felony. The court exercised its authority to seal the records in rare cases "to protect those who might unjustly be injured by indiscriminate availability of records."
Decision Reverses DOE's Denial of Certification for School Bus Driver Citing the Determination as Arbitrary and Capricious - The petitioner, an experienced school bus driver, had his application for certification to drive a bus and was denied by the Department of Education(DOE) denied based on his past criminal convictions. His last conviction was in 1993 and he had received a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities. The Court not only ruled that the denial was arbitrary and capricious but ordered the DOE to grant petitioner's application.
Second Department Reverses Denial of Defendant’s Request to Participate in the Judicial Diversion Program - In People v. DeYoung, defendant was initially denied the option of participating in the Judicial Diversion Program(JDP) on the grounds that his "admitted criminal act was for the purpose of financial gain" and not just to support his substance abuse. Mr. DeYoung pleaded guilty to the indictment in exchange for a sentence of five years probation; but in doing so, defense counsel carefully preserved his right to appeal the denial of his application to participate in the JDP. On appeal, the Second Department reversed the decision, and concluded that Mr. DeYoung should have been offered an opportunity to participate in JDP. Making a Drug Law Reform Reality blog provides a great summary of the case and highlights key lessons including the right to appeal denial of JDP participation in spite of guilty plea, and JDP eligibility regardless of how defendant used drug sale profits.
Visit Reentry Net/NY Issue Modules: Padilla Compliance Guide | People's Guide | Employment & Licensing | Housing | 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*
Apr 12: Violence Against Women Committee Meeting - Join us for a meeting of the Coalition for Women Prisoners' Violence Against Women Committee. The VAW Committee focuses on addressing the needs of incarcerated & formerly incarcerated survivors of domestic violence through public education & policy change.
Apr 13: From Criminal Justice to Human Justice:Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions Inaugural Human Justice Award Gala - The goal of the Center for NuLeadership is to reduce the over-reliance on criminal punishment sanctions as solutions for social and economic problems. Join supporters on April 13 for the 2012 gala featuring Danny Glover and other special guests. Visit http://www.centerfornuleadership.org/ for more information.
Apr 16: Film Screening: Zero Percent - "Zero Percent" follows participants of the Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison program, which provides college education, life skills, and reentry support to incarcerated men and women. After the screening, there will be a conversation with participants from the film. For more information, email aknee@law.columbia.edu or info@hudsonlink.org. You may also visit www.hudsonlink.org, or call (914) 941.0794.
Apr 18: New York Reentry Roundtable: Training for Advocacy Day- April's Reentry Roundtable discussion will serve as a training for the May 15th Advocacy Day in Albany. The event will feature Jaya Vasdani and Scott Palprowitz from the Correctional Association and Judith Brink from Prison Action Network from who will giver an overview of the bills and talking points for discussion with the legislators.
Apr 19: Coalition for Women Prisoners General Meeting - The Coalition for Women Prisoners of the Correctional Association of NY, is a statewide alliance of individuals & organizations dedicated to making the criminal justice system more responsive to the needs & rights of incarcerated & formerly incarcerated women & their families.
Apr 26: Understanding and Navigating the Criminal Justice System- This is a free, all day training intended for case managers, ACT, day treatment, clinic, substance abuse, vocational, shelter and supportive housing staff working with the people with serious mental illness. The training follows the process from arrest through case disposition highlighting the various points where for possible interventions.
Apr 30: Prisoners Are People Too, Inc., Community Education Meeting - prisoners Are People Too meets on the last Monday of the month and deals with various topics related to criminal justice, prison reform, and the challenges of reentry.
May 02: Harlem Community Law Day- No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom Ceremony with Hon. Fern Fisher and a performance by the Harlem Youth Court Lunch Community resource fair in the Harlem Art Park.
Visit the Reentry Net/NY Calendar to view more events. Click here to subscribe to our Calendar's RSS feed.
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