Criminal History Records and

Higher Education Leveraging Second

Chances

Pathways of Possibility Conference

February 27 2013New York New York

Marsha Weissman PhDExecutive Director

Center for Community Alternatives

The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) promotes reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy services and public policy development in pursuit of civil and human rights

Discussion

bull Importance of higher education

bull Mass criminalization

bull Racial disparities

bull Lifetime consequences of a criminal history record

bull Policies amp practices to ensure access to education for people with criminal history records

At least 8 out of 10 of the fastest growing jobs in the US require some

postsecondary education

US Department of Education 2003

Growth of Felons and Ex-felons 1948-2010Source Shannon Uggen Thompson Schnittker amp Massoglia 2011 GROWTH IN THE

US EX-FELON AND EX-PRISONER POPULATION 1948 TO 2010

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Center for Community Alternatives

The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) promotes reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy services and public policy development in pursuit of civil and human rights

Discussion

bull Importance of higher education

bull Mass criminalization

bull Racial disparities

bull Lifetime consequences of a criminal history record

bull Policies amp practices to ensure access to education for people with criminal history records

At least 8 out of 10 of the fastest growing jobs in the US require some

postsecondary education

US Department of Education 2003

Growth of Felons and Ex-felons 1948-2010Source Shannon Uggen Thompson Schnittker amp Massoglia 2011 GROWTH IN THE

US EX-FELON AND EX-PRISONER POPULATION 1948 TO 2010

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Discussion

bull Importance of higher education

bull Mass criminalization

bull Racial disparities

bull Lifetime consequences of a criminal history record

bull Policies amp practices to ensure access to education for people with criminal history records

At least 8 out of 10 of the fastest growing jobs in the US require some

postsecondary education

US Department of Education 2003

Growth of Felons and Ex-felons 1948-2010Source Shannon Uggen Thompson Schnittker amp Massoglia 2011 GROWTH IN THE

US EX-FELON AND EX-PRISONER POPULATION 1948 TO 2010

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

At least 8 out of 10 of the fastest growing jobs in the US require some

postsecondary education

US Department of Education 2003

Growth of Felons and Ex-felons 1948-2010Source Shannon Uggen Thompson Schnittker amp Massoglia 2011 GROWTH IN THE

US EX-FELON AND EX-PRISONER POPULATION 1948 TO 2010

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Growth of Felons and Ex-felons 1948-2010Source Shannon Uggen Thompson Schnittker amp Massoglia 2011 GROWTH IN THE

US EX-FELON AND EX-PRISONER POPULATION 1948 TO 2010

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Racial Disparities (incarceration rates per 100000)

91 142 333708

1822

4749

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

WhiteFemales

HispanicFemales

AfricanAmericanFemales

WhiteMales

HispanicMales

BlackMales

Source West Bureau of Justice Statistics of Criminal Justice Statistics 2010

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

One out of three Black American males in the United States can be expected to be jailed during his lifetime according to the US Justice Department (2003)

1964 Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race color religion sex and national origin

CRIMINALS NEED NOT

APPLY

ldquoover 40 percent of employers indicated that they would ldquoprobablyrdquo or ldquodefinitelyrdquo not be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record for a job not requiring a college degreehelliprdquo Harry Holzer ldquoHow Do Crime and Incarceration Affect the Employment Prospects of Less-Educated Black Menrdquo

Herkimer Community College President Ronald Williamsrsquo recently asserted in a letter to advocates that the ldquoadmission to HCCC of felons would be unfair to the taxpaying residents of Herkimer Countyrdquo

ldquohellippunitive and overzealous tools and approaches of the modern criminal justice system have seeped into our schools serving to remove children from mainstream educational environments and funnel them onto a one-way path toward prisonrdquo NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC School to Prison Pipeline Initiative

Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act ldquopublic housing authorities have the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a member of the household or a guest engaged in drug-related activity regardless of whether tenant knew or should have known of the drug-related activityrdquo

Lifetime Consequences

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Without opportunities like college the sentence lasts a lifetime

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Note All applicants (freshmen and transfer students must answer questions 20a and 20b

20a Have you been convicted of a felony Yes 1048576 No 1048576

SUNY Applicationfor Undergraduate Admission

ldquoThe mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational servicesof the highest quality with the broadest possible access fullyrepresentative of all segments of the population rdquo

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Collection of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

66

29

5Collect aboutall applicants

Do not collectfor anyapplicantCollect forsomeapplicants

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Use of Criminal Justice Information in College Admissions

55

16

22

7Collect amp use

Collect dontuse

DontcollectdontuseDont collectbut use

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Admissions-Related Uses of CJI

Have some type of CJI-related automatic bars to admission 28

Automatic denial based on sex offense conviction 19

Automatic denial based on violent conviction 16

Automatic denial based on felony conviction 13

Automatic denial based on campus security officersquos recommendation 11

Source Center for Community Alternatives 2010

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Role of ATIReentry Programs in Promoting Higher Education

bull Partnerships and Special Programsndash College Initiative (co-located at the Fortune Societyndash On Point for College (partnership with CCA)ndash College and Community Fellowship

bull CCA Civic Restoration Clinicndash Obtain review and correct criminal history recordsndash Obtain certificates of rehabilitationndash Understand rights and responsibilities in disclosing a criminal

history recordndash Advocacy for admission ndash Advocacy at sentencing

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Overcoming Barriers

ldquoAttending college and finishing my BA (and later my masterrsquos) is the most important thing I need to do I think this is one of the very few ways I can make my history an asset rather than a detriment I may end up working as a professional in the social justiceprisoner advocacy field largely because of that same history So it feels great and extremely importantrdquo

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

Recommended Policy Changes

bull Supportencourage a ldquoBan the Boxrdquo on college applications

bull Develop ldquobest practicerdquo recommendations to guide how colleges and universities screen for criminal justice records

bull Supportsponsor research on the rate of campus crime committed by students with criminal history records compared to students without such records

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg

For more information or to download the studyThe Use of Criminal History Screening in

College Admissions go to

wwwcommunityalternativesorg