Resources: Reentry

Organizations

Think Outside the Cell Foundation!

This organization offers a wide range of programs for the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated and their loved ones—from publishing their writings and providing scholarships to sponsoring events that support successful reintegration.

Re-Entry Success Stories

The purpose of this website is to illustrate “Re-Entry Success Stories” because the media concentrates most often on the negative stories of repeat offenders or career criminals.

Interfaith Coalition of Advocates for Reentry and Employment

The Interfaith Coalition of Advocates for Reentry and Employment (ICARE) was founded in October 2004 to organize a religious response to the crisis of recidivism in New York State. In the Restorative Justice tradition, people of faith affirm the intellectual and spiritual capacity of persons with criminal convictions, believing in the potential for rehabilitation and reconciliation.

Employment

Enforcement Guidance

This Document is an explanation of the laws regarding the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions as defined under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Job Search

This publication is a step-by-step guide to obtaining employment after incarceration

Workforce One

Workforce³ One is an e-learning, knowledge sharing webspace that offers workforce professionals, employers, economic development, and education professionals a dynamic network featuring innovative workforce solutions. Online learning events, resource information, and tools help organizations learn how to develop strategies that enable individuals and businesses to be successful in the 21st century economy

National HIRE Network

Established by the Legal Action Center, the National Helping Individuals with criminal records Re-enter through Employment Network is both a national clearinghouse for information and an advocate for policy change. The goal of the National H.I.R.E. Network is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices and public opinion. The National H.I.R.E. Network also provides training and technical assistance to agencies working to improve the employment prospects for people with criminal records.

Idea Cafe

A resource site for entrepreneurs. Find ideas for starting a business, marketing, financing, grants, etc.

Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP)

Established in 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They’re pioneers of innovative programs that connect the nation’s top executives, MBA students and politicians with convicted felons. Our entrepreneurship boot camp and re-entry programs are proven solutions for reformed inmates who thrive on challenge and accountability.

Eastern New York Angels

ENYA’s primary goal is to provide seed funding and mentorship to early stage companies while creating jobs in the Eastern Region of New York State commonly known as Tech Valley and delivering a reasonable return on investment for its members

Articles

Reentry Programs Unlock Prison Doors for Good

By Brian O’Shaughnessy, The Hartford Courant, April 20, 2012

Excerpt: Effective re-entry programs are now more important than ever given our state’s job market. Connecticut is last nationally in new job generation during the past two decades. As jobs disappeared and crime rates plummeted, our prison population increased almost 300 percent. Our poorest families and lowest-achieving students live in the same communities most affected by mass incarceration.

After jail, former inmates face higher death risk

By Amy Norton, Reuters, March 11, 2012

Excerpt: In a study of more than 155,000 people released from city jails over five years, researchers found that former inmates were twice as likely as other city residents to die of a drug overdose or homicide.

Internet Lets a Criminal Past Catch up Quicker

By Erica Goode, New York Times, April 28, 2011

Excerpt: Employers once had to physically search court records to uncover the background of people they were considering hiring. But the Internet and the proliferation of screening companies that perform background checks have made digging into a job applicant’s history both easy and inexpensive for prospective employers.

Publications

Transition Guide: How to get a good start on the outside

This publication discusses re-entry issues including: finding housing, access food, medical needs, and obtaining documentation such as identification cards, social security cards, and birth certificates.

Offender Reentry Annotated Bibliography

Published by the National Institute of Corrections, this publication provides information on reentry resources including websites, employment, housing, and community organizations.

Legislation

S 310-2011: Establishes a re-entry employment incentive tax credit

Establishes a re-entry employment incentive tax credit for employers who hire individuals who have been released from correctional facilities in the state for full-time employment at a rate that is 140% of the state minimum wage.

Sponsor: Senator Montgomery

Second Chance Act

(P.L. 110-199) was designed to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. This first-of-its-kind legislation authorizes federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism.

S311-2011: Provides that correctional institution officials shall provide instruction to and assist certain prisoners, at least 90 days prior to their release, to apply to rece