1. OFFENDER REENTRY: HELPING CLIENTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS
October 13, 2006
Kalamazoo, Michigan

2. Why Should You Care About People with Criminal Records?
1, You are in a unique position to identify and mitigate consequences.

3. Many Low-Income People Have Criminal Records
About 15% of Michigan adults have a criminal record (serious misdemeanor or felony that will show up on background check).
One in 37 adults has prison experience.
Over 14,000 people in Michigan return to the community from prison each year.
Many offenders are low-income. 50% of prisoners have less than high school education, and 15-27% will end up homeless.

4. People of Color and Mentally Ill Disproportionately Affected
53% of MI prisoners are African-American, though only 14% of population.
14% of those released from prison are mentally ill.
84% of offenders were involved with drugs and alcohol at time of offense.

5. Criminal Records are One of Biggest Barriers Our Clients Face
People with criminal records face many of the same challenges as other low-income people.
However, people with criminal records don’t have access to many of the same opportunities to get out of poverty.

6. Major Criminal Record Barriers
Employment
Housing
Family Law and Child Support
Public Benefits
Student Loans/Government training programs
Immigration
Fees and Fines

7. How Do You Get a Criminal Record?
Michigan State Police: Internet Criminal History Access Tool
Local police records
Department of Corrections: Offender Tracking and Information System
Private background screening companies
FBI fingerprint records

8. Employment
Employment is critical for the ability of our clients to support themselves and their families. Having a criminal record severely limits an individual’s employment options.
Problems obtaining employment is the most common reason that we see people with criminal records seeking legal assistance.

9. Why consider barriers to employment?
2/3 employers won’t hire people with criminal records
80% large / 66% small employers do background checks
Reduced wages increase recidivism
Two-thirds of employers will not hire a former offender.
80% of large corporations perform background checks on job applicants; 69% of small businesses do.
Employment is closely linked to recidivism: A 10% decrease in wages is associated with a 10-20% increase in criminal activity and likelihood of incarceration.

10. Statutory Barriers to Employment
State and Federal Laws and policies prevent employment of people with convictions in many jobs.

11. Jobs Likely to Limit Employment of People with Criminal Records
Working with or near children
Working with or near vulnerable adults
Licensed Professions
Security-related fields
Transportation-related fields
Jobs hired or paid by Government
Schools and school services (e.g. teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, janitors, bus drivers, secretaries, etc.: basically anyone who works for a school or an agency that provides services to a school)
Sex Offender - Any conviction resulting in registration on the Sex Offender Registry results in a mandatory, lifetime bar to employment.
Any felony conviction results in a lifetime bar to employment, unless the individual receives written permission from both the superintendent and the school board.
For teachers or others with certification or state board approval certain misdemeanors can also result in loss of certification or state board approval.
Daycare (e.g. daycare centers, licensed in-home care, DHS-paid care)
State-paid: extensive list of disqualifications.
Licensed daycare: automatic exclusion for sex offenders; case-by-case review otherwise.
Long-Term Care (e.g. nursing homes, home health agencies, adult foster care, psychiatric facilities)
Complicated tiered disqualification scheme
Felonies result in disqualification for 10 years to life
Many misdemeanors, particularly those involving theft, assault, or drugs, result in disqualification for 1-10 years.
Licensed Professions – check with licensing agency
Private Security/Security Guard/Security Alarm Contractors - No felony conviction, regardless of age of the conviction or offense. Exception for individuals continuously employed with same employer and hired before March 28, 2001.
Transportation/Aviation
Jobs Hired or Paid by Government, including military service.

12. Check Whether Your Client is Really Ineligible to Work
Laws barring the employment of people with criminal records in particular industries are very complicated.
Laws often depend on the exact conviction and whether or not your client has a history working in the field.
Appeals process may be available.

13. Strategies to Help People with Criminal Records Find Work
Screen clients for expungement. Refer to Legal Aid.
Check records for accuracy. Assist clients in removing inaccurate or duplicative information.
Appeal denials of occupational licenses. Refer to Legal Aid.
Don’t assume that ineligible to work. Check with Legal Aid.
Rehabilitation helps: Get clients in substance abuse treatment, counseling, anger management, etc.
Clients who are denied work/fired based on a blanket no-felon policy may have a race discrimination claim: refer to Legal Aid

14. Expungement: Giving Clients a Fresh Start
Even very minor criminal records can have severe, life-long consequences.
Criminal records are increasingly available: employers, landlords, licensing agencies, etc. WILL find out about your client’s record.
The best criminal record is no criminal record at all.

15. Expungement – who is eligible?
1 conviction only
5 years from conviction or release, whichever is longer
Juveniles must be at least 24
Discretionary with the court
An individual can have his or her record expunged if he or she:
Has only one conviction. One felony, one misdemeanor, one conviction period.
Multiple charges or counts in one proceeding count as multiple convictions.
It has been five years since conviction or release from imprisonment, whichever is later.
Juveniles eligible to expunge juvenile adjudication, but must wait until age 24.
The sentencing court finds that setting aside the conviction is warranted.

16. Some offenses can’t be expunged
Offenses punishable by life imprisonment (regardless of actual sentence)
CSC 1, CSC 2, CSC 3, assault with intent to commit CSC
Traffic offenses reportable to the Secretary of State
Non-traffic offenses reportable to SOS may be expunged but SOS still keeps a record.
See expungement packet in materials.

17. CLEANING UP RECORDS: RECORD INACCURACY
Many records are inaccurate.
Criminal record identity theft convictions: estimated 400,000 victims.
ICHAT mismatches: ICHAT searches on name, gender and year of birth

18. Correcting Inaccurate Records: Step 1
First determine what record was used.
Michigan State Police ICHAT
Local Police
Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS
Private Screening Company
FBI
Error in one means likely that there are errors in others too.

19. Correcting Inaccurate Records: Step 2
Determine what type of error there is:
Inaccurate information about client’s convictions or missing disposition
Arrest that did not lead to conviction
Conviction that doesn’t belong to client

20. Correcting Inaccurate Records: Incorrect Information about Client’s Convictions
Get copies of court documents showing actual convictions
Send documents to agency that produced the criminal record

21. Correcting Inaccurate Records: Conviction Doesn’t Belong to Client
For ICHAT records: client must get fingerprinted and do a record challenge.
For OTIS records: may require amendment of judgment of sentence. Contact DOC.
For private records: first correct ICHAT record and then demand correction from private company.
For FBI records: must clear in the state where the conviction occurred.
See the brochure in materials for detailed info

22. Correcting Inaccurate Records: Reporting of Arrests Not Leading to Conviction
Pending cases can be reported.
Individuals who are arrested and not charged, or who are found not guilty should file a motion for return of fingerprints to get this information off their record.

23. Housing
Stable housing is critical to successful re-entry and to family reunification
Access to housing is central to the stability of individuals and their communities. But for people with criminal records – and their families – even basic shelter is hard to find.
Criminal records can prevent your clients from living in subsidized housing, and can also have consequences in private housing.
Housing sanctions are not limited to convictions, and not limited to felony convictions.
Housing issues create tremendous barriers to family reunification upon reentry from jail or prison.

24. Consequences: Loss of Housing Options
Any convictions will make it harder to find housing – landlords can refuse to rent. However, a landlord cannot evict individual who has a valid lease just because person has a criminal record.
Certain convictions will result in denial of subsidized housing. However, many people with records, including felony records, are eligible for subsidized housing.
If new criminal activity, entire family can be evicted, not just offender.
Private Landlords
Can evict an individual for criminal activity related to the tenancy.
Are completely free to deny housing because a person has a criminal record.
Federally Subsidized Housing
Admission: Housing authorities can bar admission for a reasonable period of time after criminal activity. There are mandatory, presumptive and discretionary disqualifications, depending on the offense
Termination/Eviction: Can terminate or evict for new criminal activity
Mandatory termination for offenses that lead to life-time registration on sex offender registry or for methamphetamine production.
Discretionary termination for illegal drug use, abuse of alcohol, furnishing false information, drug crimes on or off the premises, or engaging in criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises of other tenants.
Public Housing Authorities can evict entire families for criminal activity, even if the other family members did not know about the criminal activity.
Evidentiary standards: neither arrest nor conviction are necessary. PHA needs only some evidence of criminal activity.
Mitigation: PHAs can consider mitigating circumstances, including drug and alcohol treatment.

25. Convictions that Impact Subsidized Housing
Mandatory eviction and denial of admission
Life-time Sex Offender Registration Offenses
Methamphetamine Production
Possible eviction and denial of eviction
Drug crimes
Alcohol abuse
Crimes that threaten well-being of other residents (most other crimes)

26. Housing Authorities Should Consider Rehabilitation and Age of the Conviction
Housing authority (in non-mandatory cases) can consider mitigating factors, like rehabilitation.
For admission cases, consideration of conviction (in non-mandatory cases) is limited to a “reasonable time” after conviction.

27. If Substance Abuse, Pursue Rehab
For some drug or alcohol related activities, housing authority may accept defendant, if defendant completes rehabilitation program approved by the Housing Authority.
Find out what program(s) are approved by Housing Authority.

28. Sex Offender Registry Exclusion Zone
Applies to Anyone on Sex Offender Registry
Michigan registry very broad.
Client may be on for “Romeo-and-Juliet” offenses, prostitution, public urination, etc.
Can’t live within 1000 feet of school property
Some exceptions, primarily for young offenders
May be unconstitutional
Individuals who are required to be register on SORA may not reside in a “Student Safety Zone,” which is defined at an area within 1000 feet of school property.
Some exceptions, primarily for young offenders who are living with parents or guardians,
offenders under Holmes Youthful Trainee Act who complete probationary period,
and young adult who was convicted of CSC 4 with child between 13 and 16.

29. Strategies to Help People with Criminal Records Find and Keep Housing
Screen clients for expungement. Refer to Legal Aid.
Check records for accuracy. Assist clients in removing inaccurate or duplicative information.
Assist clients to appeal denials of admission to subsidized housing, or refer to Legal Aid.
Refer eviction cases to Legal Aid.
Educate parole/probation that not all offenders are ineligible for subsidized housing.
Rehabilitation helps: Get clients in substance abuse treatment, counseling, anger management, etc.

30. Child Support and Parental Rights
Does your client have children?
Pay support?
Have custody?

31. Child Support Best to address before incarceration:
$28,000 average arrearage for prisoners
Difficult to get reduced after released
Up to 65% of wages taken to pay support after released.
Can increase risk of losing parental rights
Prevent later bench warrants and incarceration
This is the second most common issue on which we see clients, after employment.

32. Actions to Take if Client Who Pays Support is Being Incarcerated
Request reduction or cancellation of child support payments ASAP
Self-help kits available

33. Strategies if Client Already Owes Substantial Back Child Support
Client can file motion to reduce amount of payments; but will normally be based on child support guidelines.
To reduce the actual amount owed, first find out if owed to the state or other parent.
If owed to the state, client may be able to:
Ask for an “incarceration credit” from the Friend of the Court
Make reasonable payments for 2 years, and get rest of debt forgiven
If owed to the other parent, need other parent’s consent to reduce or eliminate back support.

34. Parental Rights Termination
Parental Rights can be terminated if:
Serious crime against child
Child in foster care 15 out of last 22 months unless compelling reason not to terminate
Parent in prison 2+ years and did not provide for child’s care and custody
Parent did not provide for child’s care and custody, and there is no reasonable expectation that parent will provide proper care/custody within reasonable time (which may be shorter than 2 years)
If parent is in prison, the 15 months can elapse very quickly.
Parent will have a very difficult time fighting the termination from prison.
Critical issue is making arrangements that keep kids out of foster care.

35. Actions to Take Where Parent Facing Prison Time
Client should give someone legal authority to care for client’s children. Best option depends on individual circumstances. Two options for placing children with relatives are:
Parental Power of Attorney
“Temporary Authorization of Kinship Care”
Forms available in materials
Good for 6 months at a time – no court required
Guardianship
Requires court order
Guardian must file reports with court
Power of Attorney and Guardianship aren’t a guarantee against termination, but they are a way for the client to “provide for the care and custody of the child” while incarcerated.
Which approach makes the most sense depends on the length of incarceration. Generally rule is POA for short incarceration, and other legal arrangement for long incarceration.
There are a wide variety of family structures and custodial/guardianship arrangements. What makes sense depends client’s specific circumstances.
Practice Tip: It can be difficult to figure out what child placement best reduces the risk of a parental rights termination during the client’s incarceration. Advise clients facing incarceration to consult with a family law or legal services attorney.

36. Public Benefits

37. Incarceration and Benefits
Federal benefits (Social Security/ SSI) will stop while an individual is incarcerated (although benefits to a retired or disabled person’s dependents should continue).
Very short term incarceration may not effect benefits.

38. Drug Related Felonies and Benefits
Federal law permanently bars anyone with a drug-related felony conviction from receiving certain benefits during his or her lifetime.
Covers TANF benefits (traditional cash benefits for parents & children)
Food stamps
Michigan has “opted out” of this bar, but other states still have it.
Client who are looking to move to other states may be affected.
Bill currently under consideration that would apply parts of the ban to Michigan.

39. “Fleeing Felons” and Parole Violators
If client has an outstanding felony warrant OR is
violating a condition of probation OR parole then Disqualified From:
- TANF (Cash for families)
SSI (cash based on age/disability)
Food Stamps
Subsidized housing
Refer these cases to Legal Aid
There is some good case law in SSI context saying that Social Security Administration must prove that recipient intended to flee the warrant, not simply that the warrant was outstanding.

40. Selective Service Registration Problems
Individuals are sometimes denied government benefits, access to government-funded training programs, or student loans because they failed to register with the Selective Service.
Individuals who were incarcerated during the registration period need to file a request for a Status Information Letter with the Selective Service.

41. Student Loans & Financial Aid
Violation of federal or state law involving possession OR use of controlled substance
Results in denial of federal financial aid for specified time
May be able to reduce time if complete approved rehabilitation program.
Federal law suspends eligibility for any grant, loan, or work assistance for students convicted any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance.
This statute was recently amended to apply only if the offense occurred during a period when the student received student loans.
The period of suspension begins on the date of the conviction and ends after the following intervals:
Type of Offense 1st Offense 2d Offense 3rd Offense
Possession 1 year year Indefinite
Sale 2 years Indefinite

42. Student Financial Aid Tips
Tell your clients to attend a relevant treatment programs in order to prove rehabilitation for purposes of financial aid.

43. What can you do?
Learn about barriers facing people with criminal records
Help clean up criminal records: screen for expungement and inaccurate records
When you see potential legal issues, refer clients to – and/or consult with – Legal Aid
Recommend participation in treatment programs

44. Tools for Your Practice
Training Resources
On Line Resources
Resource People
Michigan Poverty Law Program will be launching new reentry site shortly, including materials from Manual on “Providing Civil Legal Assistance to People with Criminal Records”.

45. Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Presenter
Miriam Aukerman
Reentry Law Project
Legal Aid of Western Michigan
(616) x 114