RPC Newsletter - 4/17/2007

States Consider Laws to Address Legal Obstacles to Employment for People Released from Prisons and Jails

 Providing employment opportunities to individuals upon release from prison or jail is a critical step to facilitating their successful return to the community. According to a five-year study conducted by the United States Probation and Pretrial Services System and published in 2007, people convicted of federal offenses who are employed are more likely to complete their term of community supervision without revocation for technical violations or new criminal conduct. The study found that the conditional release of individuals under community supervision was seven times more likely to get revoked if they were unemployed at the start and end of supervision.

Despite these findings, a wide range of legal and logistical obstacles continue to affect the ability of people released from prison or jail to find and maintain employment. Several states have recently introduced legislation to address some of these barriers. Two states have introduced legislation that facilitates expungement of criminal records in certain cases:

  • Kentucky House Bill 16 , which was introduced on January 2, 2007, would allow individuals convicted of one Class D felony, or a series of Class D felonies arising from a single incident, to petition for expungement of their felony record ten years after adjudication.

  • Missouri House Bill 697 , which was introduced on February 1, 2007, would require the Office of the Missouri State Public Defender to develop brochures, pamphlets, and other materials on the state's expungement procedures, eligibility requirements, and process for obtaining attorney referrals.
Other states also introduced legislation relating to expunging and sealing of criminal records this year: The Sentencing Project has released a new resource, Relief from the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction: A State-by-State Resource Guide , which offers a comprehensive survey of laws and practices relating to obtaining relief from penalties that accompany a criminal conviction in each state. The resource includes a state-by-state breakdown of judicial expungement, sealing, and set-aside laws.

For more information on removing barriers to employment for people released from prisons and jails, click here.

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Second Chance Act: 108th – 110th Congress House Bill Comparison

 The Second Chance Act of 2007 is designed to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and help ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. The House bill, H.R. 1593, was reintroduced and passed by the full Judiciary Committee.

Click here (pdf) to view a chart that summarizes the major provisions of the bill and compares the legislation to the versions introduced in 2004 and 2005.

The full text of the legislation is available online at http://thomas.loc.gov.

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Announcements

 Call for Nominations - Discharge Planning for Successful Reentry

The Urban Institute , in partnership and with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation , is seeking to identify exemplary discharge planning tools currently in use in prison and jail settings. In particular, they are looking for documents that serve any of the following functions:
  • Specify an individual's needs and risks upon release from jail or prison, including logistical barriers (transportation to housing, employment, and social services, identification cards, etc.) and substantive challenges (housing, financial assistance and employment, health care, treatment needs, family reunification, etc.);
  • Describe the activities that should occur to prepare individuals for release from prison and jail; and
  • Define the conditions for release and expectations upon release for all stakeholders involved, including corrections staff, community supervision officers, human service providers, community organizations, and the individuals themselves.
Documents can be sent by email or fax to Jenny Osborne at josborne@ui.urban.org, fax 202-296-2252.
Submission deadline: May 15, 2007.


Funding Opportunity: Workforce Investment Act Small Grassroots Organizations Connecting with the One-Stop Delivery System Solicitation for Grant Applications

The Employment and Training Administration , U.S. Department of Labor, is accepting applications for funding from eligible grassroots organizations with the ability to connect to the local One-Stop Delivery System. The goal of this grant program is to help unemployed or underemployed individuals with barriers to employment by providing services that complement and support those offered by One Stop Career Centers, connecting individuals with the existing training, apprenticeship and job opportunities of the One-Stop Career Center, and providing post-job placement services to increase job retention.

One-Stop Career Centers can provide important employment assistance for individuals preparing to leave correctional facilities. Individuals who are incarcerated are eligible for the basic job-listing and search services available through One-Stops under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. Many, if not most, prisoners meet the criteria for intensive services provided by the One-Stops, which include assessments, job counseling, and other assistance.
Application Deadline: May 8, 2007
For more information on this funding opportunity and its eligibility requirements, click here.


Funding Opportunity: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration FY2007 Services in Supportive Housing Program Grants

The Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration , is accepting applications for FY 2007 for Services in Supportive Housing Program grants. The purpose of this program is to help end chronic homelessness by funding services for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness in coordination with existing permanent supportive housing resources.

The Services in Supportive Housing Program addresses the issue of chronic homelessness by funding the services aspect of permanent supportive housing programs. The "services aspect" of supportive housing programs includes such program activities as outreach, case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and assistance in obtaining benefits. In contrast, the "housing aspect" of supportive housing includes such activities as renovations, insurance, and property management.
Application Deadline: May 22, 2007
For more information on this funding opportunity and its eligibility requirements, click here.


Upcoming Events:

International Community Corrections Association's Annual Washington. D.C. Community Corrections Public Policy Forum
April 23-25, 2007
Washington, D.C.
http://www.iccaweb.org/index.php?section=4

PowerNet of Dayton- Raising the Bar: A New Paradigm in Ex-Offender Reentry
May 3-5, 2007
Dayton, OH
http://www.powernetofdayton.org/main.asp

National Commission on Correctional Health Care: Updates in Correctional Health Care
May 5-8, 2007
Orlando, FL
http://www.ncchc.org/education/index.html

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Recent Media Coverage of Reentry Issues

  • 4/15/07 - "Changes weighed on prison sentences" (Boston Globe)

    Governor Deval Patrick has launched a comprehensive review of the state's mandatory sentencing laws to help stop the "revolving door" in the state's prison system. Administration officials say that mandatory minimum sentences, which eliminate judges' discretion in certain cases, drive up the cost of corrections and make it less likely that prisoners will participate in programs that could help them reenter society when they are released.

  • 4/15/07 - "Willy Wonka? Not Exactly. But He Does Change Lives" (New York Times)

    Michael Altman, owner of Tumbador Chocolate, a chocolate factory in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, has filled most of the low-level jobs at his factory with ex-convicts. It's part of a personal mission to be a good corporate citizen after a successful career as an executive recruiter. Eight of Mr. Altman's 24 employees have served time for violent crimes. Mr. Altman hired them through Strive, a nonprofit group in East Harlem that offers job counseling and placement services to ex-convicts, the homeless, and victims of domestic violence.

  • 4/14/07 - "Editorial: More to do on offenders' rights" (St. Petersburg Times(FL))

    PBy changing clemency rules, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet took a significant step toward enabling more ex-offenders who have completed their sentences to regain their civil rights. The challenge now is to resist the temptation to declare "mission accomplished," because the task is not complete.

  • 4/13/07 - "Oregon bill would limit early release program" (Corvallis Gazette Times (OR))

    Prosecutors and prison officials are supporting legislation that would reform the Oregon's Alternative Incarceration Program, which offers felons less prison time if they agree to drug and alcohol treatment. The bills, presented to the House Judiciary Committee this week, are aimed at preserving treatment options, but preventing violent offenders from getting an early release from prison.

Click here to see more collected reentry news from the Reentry Policy Council.

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Recent Published Resources on Reentry Issues

To suggest additional resources for inclusion in the RPC newsletter, please email editors@reentrypolicy.org.

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In this Issue

 Our Publications

Homelessness and Prisoner Reentry

Many people released from prison or jail are at risk for homelessness, which can increase the likelihood that they will commit new crimes and return to prison.

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