Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2013) – With more than 65 million Americans possessing a criminal record, the consequences of conviction – specific legal barriers, generalized discrimination, and social stigma – have become more numerous and severe, more public, and more permanent. These restrictions affect jobs and licenses, housing, public benefits, judicial rights, parental rights, interstate travel, and even volunteer opportunities. Moreover, the legal mechanisms relied on in the past to restore rights and status for formerly convicted individuals have atrophied or become ineffective, with the result that a significant percentage of the American public is permanently consigned to second class citizenship.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (NACDL) Task Force on Restoration of Rights and Status After Conviction will hold its sixth set of hearings to undertake an inquiry into how legal mechanisms for relief from the collateral consequences of conviction are essentially working, in both state and federal systems, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, May 15-17, 2013, in New York, N.Y.
The New York, N.Y. panelists include (a link to the complete agenda and witness list is below): David Paterson, Former Governor, New York and Principal, DAPStrategies LLC; Judge Harold Baer, U.S. District Court Judge, New York; Jeremy Travis, President, John Jay College; Vincent N. Shiraldi, Commissioner, New York Department of Probations; Glenn Martin, Vice President, Fortune Society; Angela B. Jimenez, Deputy Commissioner for Community Supervision, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; Roberta Meyers, Director, National HIRE Network; Sally Friedman, Legal Director, Legal Action Center; Erika Tindill, Chair, Connecticut board of Pardons and Paroles; Vivian Nixon, Executive Director, College & Community Fellowship; Joe Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney; Elizabeth Gaynes, Executive Director, Osborne Association; and Divine Pryor, Deputy Executive Director, NuLeadership Policy Group.
The Task Force’s inaugural hearing was held in Chicago, Illinois, October 2011, followed by hearings in Miami in February 2012, Cleveland in April 2012, San Francisco in July 2012, and Washington, D.C. in February 2013. The upcoming hearing in New York City will be the final hearing. Witnesses have shared a range of personal and professional experiences, perspectives and expertise on the important practical issues surrounding barriers to re-entry and the collateral consequences of a criminal record. Over two dozen witnesses in New York City will include representatives from federal agencies, community based organizations, attorneys, law enforcement, researchers, civil rights advocates, as well as, individuals with convictions who themselves confronted barriers to re-entry.
The results of these regional hearings will be compiled into a report that will identify the best practices that help facilitate the full restoration of rights and status of an individual post a conviction. In addition, the report will provide policy recommendations that jurisdictions on the state and federal level can implement to help ensure that those with convictions can be put on a path to secure the full restoration of their rights and status.
If you are interested in attending part or all of these hearings, please contact NACDL’s State Legislative Affairs Director Angelyn C. Frazer at afrazer@nacdl.org or at (202) 465-7642 by the close of business on Tuesday May 14, 2013.
For more information about the Task Force, please visit the website at www.nacdl.org/criminaldefense/restoration/.
WHEN:
- Wednesday May 15, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT
- Thursday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT
- Friday May 17, 2013 from 9 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
825 8th Ave @50th Street
New York, N.Y. 10019
A complete schedule and witness list is linked here.
Contacts
NACDL Communications Department
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.