NCJ Number
207405
Journal
Clearinghouse Review Journal of Poverty Law and Policy Dated: September-October 2003 Pages: 328-340
Date Published
September 2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper identifies and discusses areas where civil legal aid attorneys and public defenders can cooperate to facilitate an offender's successful adjustment (reentry) in the community after release from prison.
Abstract
The first section of this report discusses how criminal convictions can create difficulties for ex-offenders when they attempt to establish residence, employment, and responsible citizenship in the community. Public access to criminal records and the registration of some types of offenders has the potential to stigmatize an offender so as to obstruct his/her search for housing and employment. Advocates who represent ex-offenders can minimize the stigma of a criminal record by filing for expungement or the sealing of records. Barring ex-offenders from Federal financial aid programs and military service constitutes another impediment to educational and employment opportunities. This paper describes various actions that advocates can take to eliminate or mitigate these barriers. Other services, rights, and opportunities that may be denied ex-offenders are public benefits, housing, parental rights, and voting rights. Non-citizen ex-offenders will typically have immigration issues to confront. Collaboration between civil legal aid attorneys and public defenders is essential if ex-offenders are to be helped in navigating through the various obstacles to their reentry. This paper concludes with a discussion of the contexts and resources that can facilitate such collaboration. Attention is given to training and conferences, the establishment of civil legal services units in public defender offices, initiatives of the American Bar Association, reentry courts, and law schools. 61 notes