Experts have identified more than 40,000 “collateral consequences” at the state and federal levels that can limit or prohibit access to employment, occupational licensing, public benefits, housing, voting, education, and other opportunities for justice involved individuals. As many as one in three Americans have some type of criminal record that precludes opportunities to economic mobility and disproportionately impacts traditionally marginalized communities and communities of color.
Collateral consequences act as a significant barrier to the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, which can lead to increased recidivism that perpetuates the damaging cycle of mass incarceration among low-income communities and communities of color. Where and how people can legally and safely contribute to the economy and their own wellbeing should not be limited by debts already paid to society.
CLASP’s work in this space also includes the psychological impact of incarceration on the individual and their families.
CLASP submitted these comments to the Regulations.gov on December 9, 2018. CLASP strongly opposes the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed regulation regarding public charge. We urge that the rule be withdrawn in its entirety, and that long standing principles clarified in the 1999 field guidance remain…
These comments to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights discuss how collateral consequences affect formerly incarcerated people and their families. The impact is both tangible and psychological, creating major challenges to reintegrating into society.
For people with felony convictions, even those who haven’t been to prison, it’s challenging to find employment to support themselves and their families. This problem is compounded by collateral consequences, such as losing the right to vote and legal restrictions on employment, housing, and educational opportunities.
A bipartisan group of legislators has reintroduced the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment (REDEEM) Act and the Fair Chance Act in both the House and Senate. The Fair Chance Act ensures job applicants would be considered based on their qualifications and not on their conviction history…
Sixty-one higher education institutions and systems signed the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge, a White House initiative to reduce barriers to admission for individuals with prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
New guidance from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reinforces the importance of access to health care for citizens re-entering their communities from incarceration.
On February 11, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success (SUCCESS) Act.
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