Helping Individuals with criminal records Re-enter through Employment RESOURCE, INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE MANUAL Established by the Legal Action Center, the National HIRE Network’s mission is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by improving employment practices and public policies, and changing public opinion. HIRE engages in a number of activities that promote the hiring and retention of people w ho have criminal histories: Policy/Advocacy: The HIRE Network plays key roles in state and federal policy initiatives that affect people who have criminal records. The HIRE Network helps state and local policymakers make informed workforce and criminal justice decisions: HIRE w orked w ith Illinois and Delaw are legislators and advocates to successfully pass legislation that allows people who have criminal records to earn occupational licenses and certification. Our Washington, DC staff see to it that job seekers w ho have criminal records are considered in discussion of federal legislation—such as the Workforce Investment Act, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Higher Education Act—that influence labor and criminal justice policies and practices nationw ide. Employer Support: The HIRE Netw ork understands that businesses seek to attract and retain a skilled w orkforce, keep costs dow n, and improve productivity. We also understand that although a job applicant may be highly qualified, an arrest or conviction record may make the applicant appear to be a liability rather than an asset. HIRE addresses these concerns by helping employers access qualified workers, secure liability protection, perform background checks, assess compliance with relevant state and federal laws that govern the hiring of people w ho have conviction records, and make fair and appropriate employment decisions. Information Clearinghouse: HIRE’s website, www.hirenetwork.org, is an online national clearinghouse for legal and practical information, research, and other literature on criminal justice- and employment-related policies and practices. The site’s Resources and Assistance page offers information on community-based organizations and government agencies that can provide employment services, answ er questions about legal barriers to employment, or offer referrals to other organizations or agencies in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. In addition, it provides information on state and federal employment laws that affect people w ho have criminal histories including addressing legal barriers to employment and completing employment applications; effective strategies for preparing and placing job seekers with criminal records; developing partnerships w ith employers; guides on effective advocacy; and other topics of interest to individuals, w orkforce development and criminal justice providers, and others w ho have a stake in these issues. Promoting Research: HIRE works to help researchers and practitioners measure the impact of employment and criminal justice programs and make effective use of research results. HIRE’s recent research projects include a survey of what types of identification Departments of Correction across the country issue to newly released prisoners and w hether the documents issued can be used as proof of identification to obtain a new state ID card from the Department of Motor Vehicles. HIRE has also compiled labor-forecasting data that documents national and state employment trends; useful for any successful w orkforce development initiative. Communication/Media: HIRE delivers timely information to our members and to the public. Our comprehensive monthly newsletter, HIRE Netw ork New s, is available both in print and on HIRE’s website and highlights successful employment practices and programs, government initiatives, upcoming conferences and new reports and research. HIRE also makes it a priority to use media outlets to change public opinion and otherwise address the stigma attached to job seekers who have criminal records. HIRE contributes and responds to news coverage relevant to the employment of people with criminal histories and promotes the responsible use of language in portraying this set of job seekers. Youth Reentry: HIRE' s youth reentry " Know Your Rights" campaign provides education, technical assistance, and advocacy directed at juveniles, criminal defense attorneys and workforce development providers to address unique employment barriers faced by young people w ho have been involved in either the juvenile or criminal justice system. This manual was created by: Mr. Gary R. Ransom Offender Employment Specialist Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional institution, McKean P.O. Box 5000 Bradford, PA 16701 E-mail: [email protected] P: (814) 362-8900 ext.3536 Information compiled by: The National H.I.R.E. Network 153 Waverly Place New York, NY 10014 Website: www.hirenetwork.org E-mail: [email protected] P: (212) 243-1313 F: (212) 675-0286 A Project of the Legal Action Center Legal Action Center www.lac.org The National H.I.R.E. Network is generously supported by the Charles Stewart Mott, Joyce, Public Welfare, Annie E. Casey Foundation and J.P. Morgan Chase Foundations. STATE PAGES This manual includes state-specific governmental agencies and community-based organizations to assist people with criminal records, practitioners, and policy makers. These agencies and organizations may be of assistance in providing job-related and legal services, answering questions arising from having a criminal record, or offering referrals to other useful organizations. To view information on a specific State or the District of Columbia, click on the link below. ALABAMA ILLINOIS MONTANA RHODE ISLAND ALASKA INDIANA NEBRASKA SOUTH CAROLINA ARIZONA IOWA NEVADA SOUTH DAKOTA ARKANSAS KANSAS NEW HAMPSHIRE TENNESSEE CALIFORNIA KENTUCKY NEW JERSEY TEXAS COLORADO LOUISIANA NEW MEXICO UTAH CONNECTICUT MAINE NEW YORK VERMONT DELAWARE MARYLAND NORTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MASSACHUSETTS NORTH DAKOTA WASHINGTON FLORIDA MICHIGAN OHIO WEST VIRGINIA GEORGIA MINNESOTA OKLAHOMA WISCONSIN HAWAII MISSISSIPPI OREGON WYOMING IDAHO MISSOURI PENNSYLVANIA ALABAMA I. Alabama Department of Labor Contact: P.O. Box 303500 Montgomery, AL 36130 334-242-3460 334-240-3417 fax Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to: • potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories • service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment • researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose. A. Federal Bonding Program The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds. Contact: Annette Graves, State Coordinator Federal Bonding Program Alabama State Employment Service Industrial Relations Building, Room 246 649 Monroe St. Montgomery, AL 36131 334-242-8039 334-242-8585 fax E-Mail: [email protected] B. Tax Credits The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals. Contact: Martha Sanders, WOTC Coordinator Employment Service Division Alabama Department of Industrial Relations 649 Monroe St. Montgomery, AL 36131 334-353-8037 334-353-9064 fax E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.dir.state.al.us/ C. Unemployment Insurance Office Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work. The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law. Contact: Unemployment Compensation Division Alabama Department of Industrial Relations 649 Monroe St. Montgomery, AL 36131 Web Site: www.dir.state.al.us/es/localoffices/ II. Criminal Record Repository This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet and learn about the process of sealing, expunging or cleaning it up. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record. An individual or employer must call or write the Bureau of Investigations to request a release form. The release form must be signed by the individual whose record is being requested along with a $25 fee. Searches for a criminal record can be done based on a name or a set of fingerprints. Each procedure costs $25. Contact: Alabama Department of Public Safety Bureau of Investigations P.O. Box 1511 Montgomery, AL 36102 334-395-4340 III. State Attorney General Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws