Working Their Way Home

There are more than 63,000 inmates in New York State prisons, the fourth highest total in the nation. About two-thirds are Black and Latino men. Once released, these individuals return in high concentration to a handful of communities, particularly in the South Bronx, Central Brooklyn, and Harlem neighborhoods. Many soon find themselves unable to secure employment and, as a result, are at-risk of engaging in activities that will result in further imprisonment.

High rates of recidivism undermine poor communities. It costs the state too much money - more than $25,000 a year for each inmate - to essentially create a revolving door for the correctional system. This cycle costs families and neighborhoods too much financially and emotionally. The time is now to move legislation, create policies, and develop resources that allow the formerly incarcerated to be reintegrated into the workforce.

To determine what policies and resources are necessary to facilitate the successful reentry of individuals back to their home communities, the Community Service Society (CSS) launched the New York City Reentry Roundtable in December 2005 to foster collaboration between advocates and families members, and to develop a consensus reentry agenda.

Reentry Roundtable

The New York City Reentry Roundtable -- which represents more than 50 organizations -- provides a unique venue for information gathering as well as an opportunity to build alliances. Meetings are held monthly, often featuring informed guest speakers on subjects concerning reentry problems.

Moving from discussion to active advocacy, the Roundtable held its first Reentry Advocacy Day in Albany on Tuesday, May 22. More than 100 advocates, family members, and formerly incarcerated traveled to the state capital. The Roundtable has developed a number of legislative proposals that address unfair obstacles faced by the formerly incarcerated in employment, health care, family reunification, housing, education, and civic participation.

While in Albany, Roundtable participants held more than 20 meetings with legislators and staff on key committees overseeing correctional issues. Assemblyman Jeff Aubrey, chairman of the Committee on Correction, and Assemblyman Darryl Towns, chairman of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus, also addressed the group. Subsequent meetings are planned with both legislators to discuss the Roundtable's legislative agenda in greater detail.

The Roundtable correctly asserts that employment for the formerly incarcerated is crucial for rebuilding families and communities. It supports legislation that protects employers who comply with state law encouraging employment of individuals with criminal records from negligent hiring claims. The Roundtable also supports proposals to reduce licensing barriers - currently a felony record usually bars anyone from a barber's, plumbers, or taxicab driver's license, among others. These barriers are illogical and serve no useful purpose.

The Roundtable also supports strengthening anti-disclosure laws, extending existing discrimination protections to current employees, and the creation of a $25 million Wage Subsidy Program specifically for qualified job seekers with criminal records.

Strategies for
successful reentry

While employment is critical, adequate health care, education, housing, and a stable family environment are also key to the successful reentry of the formerly incarcerated. Because of this, the Roundtable included a number of other proposals dealing with these issues.

In the area of health care, the Roundtable supports legislation that authorizes oversight of health care in local correctional facilities by the state Department of Health.

In the area of family connections, the Roundtable supports the Family Connections Bill (A.3397/S.705), which will permanently end the shameful 57.7 percent backdoor telephone tax on prison families and ensure that no future governor can reinstate the tax.

In the area of child support, the Roundtable is requesting an examination the levels of arrears amassed by incarcerated non-custodial parents and the effects of these arrears on labor market participation after release.

In housing, the Roundtable is requesting movement on four issues, including legislation to protect individuals seeking housing from unfair discrimination based on arrests that did not lead to convictions, and state funding for both permanent supportive and transitional housing for individuals being released from prison and jail. The housing proposals have been recommended by the New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Proceedings.

In education, the Roundtable is requesting the reinstatement of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants for higher education courses in state prisons and the passage of legislation to prohibit colleges and universities from rejecting the applications of formerly incarcerated individuals.

On voting rights, the Roundtable supports legislation to eliminate restrictions on voting for people on parole so that all persons who have been released from prison are allowed to vote. This proposal is also recommended by the New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Proceedings.

Legislative Action Needed

The Roundtable put these specific proposals in front of our legislators in Albany during its recent Advocacy Day. Its members will work to win the support for its public policy agenda. It is now up to our state's leadership to make reentry a priority. Advocating for the formerly incarcerated is not being "soft on crime." Just the opposite. It's a common sense approach that benefits all New Yorkers, economically and in terms of public safety.

From the New York Amsterdam News
May 31 - June 6, 2007