Additional Resources

Prosecutors, ReEntry, and Public Safety by DA Cyrus Vance Jr, Courtney Oliva & Staley Richards
The vast majority of people incarcerated in state prison – at least 95 percent – will be released back to their communities. Nationwide, roughly 641,000 people were released from state and federal prisons in 2015. Although fewer people are returning to prison, the research still suggests that returning individuals face a host of barriers and challenges to reintegrating and rejoining their communities. These obstacles can create a cycle of criminal justice involvement leading to long-term negative public safety and justice outcomes.

Prosecutors must zealously advocate for holding individuals accountable while also aiming to prepare those who come through the criminal justice system for reentry. This reimagining of a prosecutor’s duty requires them to recognize and champion the twin aims of long-term public safety and equity.

Getting to Work with a Criminal Record: New York State License Guides (2020 Expanded Edition)
The New York State License Guides explain the process for obtaining licenses in 25, high-demand occupations and professions for people who have conviction records.

COVID-19 Crisis Highlights the Urgency of Prison Reentry Reform by Shanakay Salmon

How to Make Sure They Don’t Go Back: New York State is Failing at Prisoner Reentry by Lucy Lang

Featured Organizations

Osborne Association - http://www.osborneny.org/
The Osborne Association works in partnership with individuals, families, and communities to create opportunities for people affected by the criminal justice system to further develop their strengths and lead lives of responsibility and contribution. We design, implement, and advocate for solutions that prevent and reduce the damage caused by crime and incarceration.

NYC Public Advocate’s Office - https://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/
The public advocate is a non-voting member of the New York City Council with the right to introduce and co-sponsor legislation. Prior to a 2002 charter revision, the Public Advocate was also the presiding officer of the Council. The public advocate also serves as an ombudsman for city government, providing oversight for city agencies, investigating citizens' complaints about city services and making proposals to address perceived shortcomings or failures of those services.

Reentry Rocks - https://reentryrocks.org/
Reentry Rocks’ mission is to spread awareness, create societal and institutional change, and support women coming home from incarceration through strengths-based, creative programming.  We empower formerly incarcerated women with histories of domestic violence and trauma to become leaders and achieve their goals of obtaining employment and housing through mentorship and case management.  We also support women in their journeys to heal from their past and rebuild their lives, rock by rock, through counseling focused on creative expression, storytelling, responsibility, remorse, and change.

Just Soul Catering - http://www.justsoulcatering.com/
Just Soul Catering helps to break down barriers to employment by hiring formerly incarcerated individuals.

Corner Project - https://cornerproject.org/#services-accordion
Washington Heights CORNER Project’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people who use drugs or engage in sex work.

The Fortune Society - https://fortunesociety.org/
Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society’s vision is to foster a world where all who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated will thrive as positive, contributing members of society. We do this through a holistic, one-stop model of service provision.

Institute for Justice and Opportunity at John Jay College - https://justiceandopportunity.org/
As a champion of institutional, structural, and personal transformation, the Institute opens doors and eliminates barriers to success for people who have been involved in the criminal legal system.

Programs

Inside Criminal Justice - https://www.prosecution.org/inside-criminal-justice
Inside Criminal Justice, a joint initiative of The Manhattan D.A. Academy, the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Center for Justice at Columbia University, is a semester-long seminar comprised of individuals incarcerated at Queensboro Correctional Facility Edgecombe Correctional Facility and prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.