Press Release
Youth Represent and Community Service Society Launch Legal Hotline
July 16, 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Michael Pope, Executive Director, Youth Represent
Judy Whiting, General Counsel, Community Service Society
Jeff Maclin, VP for Governmental and Public Relations, Community Service Society
Today, Youth Represent and the Community Service Society (CSS), nonprofit organizations that have each provided free reentry-related legal services for more than a decade, are launching a free Legal Hotline for New Yorkers with conviction histories and/or past criminal justice system involvement. The Hotline is for people who need legal support to address questions and problems that these conviction histories may create, including barriers to employment and occupational licensing, or those who simply want a better understanding of their records and to correct any mistakes.
“Decades of discriminatory over-policing in New York City have unequally saddled Black and brown New Yorkers with conviction records that can create real barriers to good jobs, professional licensing, higher education, and full participation in the life of their community and the state’s economy,” says Michael Pope, Executive Director at Youth Represent. Judy Whiting, General Counsel at CSS adds, “At a time when New Yorkers with conviction histories are struggling with record-level employment discrimination, job loss and related problems, we are here to help. In this time of social distancing and other public health precautions, we’ve set up this free Legal Hotline so people can access us and our services quickly and easily, without having to travel.”
The Legal Hotline can be reached at (646) 759-8088. It will operate Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM. Calls placed after those hours will be returned the next business day.
Callers 24 years old and younger will be routed to Youth Represent; callers 25 years old and above will be routed to CSS.
Both groups provide no-cost legal advice, support, and representation for people with past arrests or convictions facing issues these records create, including but not limited to:
- Job denials and job terminations
- Job application questions about criminal histories
- Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct
- Criminal records / rap sheets / background checks issues and questions
- Records sealing
All legal advice, support and representation will be provided free of charge.
###
Youth Represent's mission is to ensure that young people affected by the criminal justice system are afforded every opportunity to reclaim lives of dignity, self-fulfillment, and engagement in their communities.
For more than 175 years, the Community Service Society of New York has been the leading voice on behalf of low-income New Yorkers and continues to advocate for the economic security of the working poor in the nation’s largest city. We respond to urgent, contemporary challenges with applied research, advocacy, litigation and innovative program models that help the working poor achieve a better quality of life and promote a more prosperous city. Visit us at www.cssny.org