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Next Door Project
The unemployment rate of people with criminal records dwarfs that of the general population and is highest among Black women and men, who have a 43.6% and 35.2% unemployment rate, respectively. People with criminal records who are employed make nearly half as much as those without records, leading to a lifetime earning loss of half a million dollars.
At the Next Door Project, our legal workers and attorneys help low-income New Yorkers request and understand their criminal records. Here’s how we help:
- We teach people with criminal records their rights;
- We request individuals’ criminal records; for free if their income is no higher than 200% of the federal poverty level; and
- We shrink criminal records as much as possible by fixing mistakes, sealing eligible cases, and addressing open warrants.
- For the criminal convictions that must remain on the record, we apply for certificates to reduce their impact; help people talk about their convictions in a positive way; and create personal portfolios to highlight clients’ strengths; and
- Our attorneys represent people who have been denied a job, a license to do a job, or public or private housing because of their criminal records.
Please call (212) 614-5441 to make an appointment anytime or to join one of our monthly group intake sessions. Intake sessions begin with a know-your-rights training followed by completing the paperwork necessary to request a person’s criminal record. We can request records from all states and the federal government, not just New York.
Here are our 2025-2026 Intake dates, all beginning at 9:30 am at our office:
- September 25, 2025
- October 23, 2025
- November 20, 2025
- December 18, 2025
- January 29, 2026
- February 26, 2026
- March 26, 2026
- April 30, 2026
- May 28, 2026
- June 25, 2026
- July 30, 2026
- September 24, 2026
- October 29, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- December 17, 2026
Leave a message at (212) 614-5441 with your contact information, and we will call you back to schedule an appointment. Clients must bring some proof of identity, such as a Benefit card or other official identification.
The Next Door Project also provides services on-site at agencies throughout New York City whose clients have criminal records. If you would like to discuss an ongoing partnership, please contact Program Director Carlos Jesse at (212) 614-5471 or cjesse@cssny.org or Project Organizer Ronette Steele at (917) 841-1141 or rsteele@cssny.org.
Know-Your-Rights Resources
- A Fair Chance to Live and Work with a Criminal Record
- Sealing Arrest and Conviction Records in New York State
- Certificates Restore Your Job, Housing, and Civil Rights
- School Bus, Paratransit, and Bus Driver Conviction Barriers
Volunteer Opportunities at the Next Door Project
The Next Door Project also trains older adult volunteers to assist people with conviction histories. Next Door Project counselors do everything from scheduling client appointments to reading and summarizing rap sheets to working closely with clients for several weeks or months, helping them to become intimately familiar with their convictions so that they can honestly discuss them with prospective employers.
If you are an older adult aged 55+ and interested in volunteering as a Next Door Project Counselor, please contact Program Director Carlos Jesse at (212) 614-5471 or cjesse@cssny.org.