Reentry Resources

The Reentry Working Group engages federal policy makers to develop, protect, and advance support programs and resources that help make long-term reentry success possible. Resources that provide information about these critical federal reentry programs and policies include:

The National Reentry Resource Center is a federally funded national initiative geared toward improving reentry success for Americans upon their release from incarceration. The NRRC’s website is easy to navigate and is a useful first-stop for anyone desiring more information or guidance about the reentry process.

The Collateral Consequences Resource Center is a nonprofit whose aim is to “promote public engagement with the myriad issues raised by the legal restrictions and societal stigma that burden people with a criminal record long after their criminal case is closed.” Their Restoration of Rights Project (RRP) provides a state-by-state look at the various laws and policies regarding criminal record relief across the United States. The CCRC website contains plenty of information, commentary, and resources for anyone interested in learning more about the collateral consequences of criminal convictions.

To view and download the reentry policy resources shared across this site, please click through the tabs below, organized by issue area:

Downloadable Resources

  • Paving the Path to Healthier Reentry: How New Medicaid Policies Can Improve Mental Health and Substance Use Support as People Return to Communities

Issue brief published in October 2023 by the Health and Reentry Project and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Download here

 

  • Unchaining Civil Rights Through Quality Health Services & Care

Issue brief published in April 2022 by Legal Action Center’s No Health No Justice project. Download here

  • Congressional Research Service Overview of the Appropriations Process Download here
  • Collateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC) website

 

  • State-by-state analyses of collateral consequences, aggregated here by CCRC

 

  • Paycheck Protection Program Second Chance Act bill text

 

  • Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials (RESTORE) Act bill text
  • RESTORE ACT Fact Sheet

Fact sheet in support of the RESTORE Act and for repealing the SNAP Drug Felony Ban in the 2023 Farm Bill, created in 2023 by Drug Policy Alliance. Download here

  • An Affordable Home on Reentry

In-depth report published in 2018 by the National Housing Law Project intended to be used as a ‘comprehensive resource to assist advocates who are representing individuals with criminal records in their efforts to obtain housing’. Download here

 
  • Fair Chance Ordinances: An Advocate’s Toolkit

Organizer & advocate toolkit published in 2019 by the National Housing Law ProjectDownload here

 
  • When Discretion Means Denial: A National Perspective on Criminal Records Barriers to Federally Subsidized Housing

Report published in February 2015 by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Download here

  • Increasing Public Safety by Restoring Voting Rights

Policy brief published in April 2023 by the Sentencing Project. Download here

  • Research Supports Fair Chance Policies

Issue brief published in January 2024 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here

 
  • Pre-Apprenticeship Programs Report

Report published in May 2021 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here

 
  • Fair Chance Hiring for Employers Policy Brief

Issue brief published in April 2023 by the National Employment Law Project on Fair Chance Hiring for Employers. Download here

Access to Healthcare

  • Paving the Path to Healthier Reentry: How New Medicaid Policies Can Improve Mental Health and Substance Use Support as People Return to Communities

Issue brief published in October 2023 by the Health and Reentry Project and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Download here

  • Unchaining Civil Rights Through Quality Health Services & Care

Issue brief published in April 2022 by Legal Action Center’s No Health No Justice project. Download here

Budget & Appropriations

  • Congressional Research Service Overview of the Appropriations Process Download here
  • Reentry Working Group FY25 Funding Priorities Download here
  • Second Chance Act Program Grantee Map Download here

Collateral Consequences

  • Collateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC) website
    • State-by-state analyses of collateral consequences, aggregated here by CCRC

    • Paycheck Protection Program Second Chance Act bill text
  • Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials (RESTORE) Act bill text

Food Security

  • RESTORE ACT Fact Sheet

Fact sheet in support of the RESTORE Act and for repealing the SNAP Drug Felony Ban in the 2023 Farm Bill, created in 2023 by Drug Policy Alliance. Download here

Housing

  • An Affordable Home on Reentry

In-depth report published in 2018 by the National Housing Law Project intended to be used as a ‘comprehensive resource to assist advocates who are representing individuals with criminal records in their efforts to obtain housing.’ Download here

  • Fair Chance Ordinances: An Advocate’s Toolkit

Organizer & advocate toolkit published in 2019 by the National Housing Law ProjectDownload here

  • When Discretion Means Denial: A National Perspective on Criminal Records Barriers to Federally Subsidized Housing

Report published in February 2015 by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Download here

Voting Rights

  • Increasing Public Safety by Restoring Voting Rights

Policy brief published in April 2023 by the Sentencing Project. Download here

Workplace Development

  • Research Supports Fair Chance Policies

Issue brief published in January 2024 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here

  • Pre-Apprenticeship Programs Report

Report published in May 2021 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here

  • Fair Chance Hiring for Employers Policy Brief

Issue brief published in April 2023 by the National Employment Law Project on Fair Chance Hiring for Employers. Download here

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