Four Cs

• This website gives a state by state overview of the problems of re-entry, along with cites to the applicable laws. The website gives facts about the effects of criminal convictions upon a person’s ability to adopt or be a foster parent, as well as employment opportunities, housing and food stamp (TANF) eligibility.

• This website gives information to those persons who have been indicated for child abuse or neglect. It outlines how to address false allegations, as well as how to expunge the State Central Registry. If you have an indication of child abuse or neglect, you are prohibited from being a foster parent, day care provider or in other employment involving child care. The website outlines the procedure to obtain more information about your indication.

  Specifically, “If you are the alleged subject of a report, your county Child Protective Services (CPS) office is required by law to notify you of the report in writing. You are entitled to a copy of the report; however any information pertaining to the identity of the source will be redacted as will any information about those who assisted in the investigation if the release of that information might reasonably jeopardize the safety of such person. You can request a copy of the record of the SCR by writing to: State Central Register, P.O. Box 4480, Albany, NY 12204. . . Please give your full name, date of birth, your children’s names and dates of birth, and the address where you lived at the time you believe you may have been reported. If you know the case I.D., please include this information in your letter.”

• The site presents a report on the effects of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) on the children of incarcerated parents. The study’s authors sought to determine whether ASFA resulted in an increase in Termination of Parental Rights hearing among such families.

• This website has a link to a pamphlet which states a Bill of Rights for children of incarcerated parents, which include rights to “have contact with my parent,” and to “be informed about my parent.”

• This is a step by step instruction on how to find out if there is a report of child abuse or neglect against you in the New York State Central Register (SCR) and whether that information is available to future employers or licensing agencies that deal with the care of children.

• Though we are unable to address fully the complex and unique issues associated with juvenile convictions until this summer, we are providing links to the following. Robert E. Shepherd, Jr., Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Proceedings: Part I, 15 Crim. Just. 59 (2000), and Robert E. Shepherd, Jr., Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Proceedings: Part II, 15 Crim. Just. (2000). This two-part article discusses the myriad of consequences of a juvenile adjudication, including loss of future consideration as a juvenile, mandated HIV/DNA testing, sentencing enhancements due to a prior juvenile adjudication, problems with employment, problems with college admissions, and many other obstacles.

• This piece by the Empire Justice Center (formerly known as the Greater Upstate Law Project “GULP”) discusses child support arrears and prison.

Goro Toshima, “A Hard Straight,” Documentary

• Documentary “following the post-release stories of three people in close and unflinching detail …including a mother whose oldest daughter had taken in the two younger children during her prison term. Life becomes very complicated very quickly once she gains her freedom. Increasing friction with her daughter comes to a head over her struggle with methamphetamine addiction.”

• This pamphlet and website offers details of a conference at Harvard Law School in Spring 2006 pertaining to re-entry, recidivism, and other issues facing offenders.

• This website discusses the In Arms Reach organization which provides mentoring services to children of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents, and attempts to enhance the relationship between children and their incarcerated parents. The website also gives contact information for those interested in the program.

• This website discusses the Incarcerated Mothers Program which provides mentoring services to children of incarcerated mothers. The site also gives contact information for the program coordinator.

• This website has a great list of articles and links about Girls in the Juvenile Justice System, such as Justice by Gender: The Lack of Appropriate Prevention, Diversion and Treatment Alternatives for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System.

• This website provides information about New York’s Kieran’s Law, which permits parents and guardians to access the criminal convictions of potential child care providers for a $75 fee.

• This website, run by the National Institute of Corrections, features many helpful links and resources, with sections such as Families of Offenders and Women Offender Issues.

• This website outlines whether you are allowed to be around children or schools or other areas with children under age 18 if you have been convicted of a sexual offense. This may or may not apply to one’s own children.

• This article discusses the duties of prosecutors and defense counsel when plea bargaining in delinquency proceedings.

• This website discusses whether prisoners retain the right to procreate during their incarceration.

• This website is a comprehensive overview of the problems associated with re-entry into society after incarceration, including problems in obtaining employment and housing, as well as problems with custody and visitation.

• University of Maryland Law School, Re-Entry Clinic Presents Working Conference on Collateral Consequences. The University of Maryland website details a November 2005 conference centered on the connections between issues of re-entry collateral consequences of criminal convictions. Topics discussed included the re-entry process in Maryland, and mechanisms for lawyers to address these issues both during case involvement and afterward.

• Great NYC organization with comprehensive website about the Vera Institute of Justice’s initiatives for offenders to return home and numerous articles about pertinent topics, such as Incarcerated Mothers.