DMC with CJ System; Collateral Consequences; and Legal and Policy Relief Measures

1. DMC with CJ System; Collateral Consequences; and Legal and Policy Relief Measures Daryl V. Atkinson, Esq. Southern Coalition for Social Justice

2. Roadmap for discussion • Define and highlight DMC • Nationally • North Carolina • Define and highlight collateral consequences • Tour C-CAT • Overview of SCSJ’s areas of advocacy

3. Racial/Ethnic DisparitiesDefinition • Racial disparity exists when the proportion of a racial/ethnic group within the control of the criminal justice system differs from the proportion of such groups in the general population. • Illegitimate or unwarranted racial disparity results from the dissimilar treatment of similarly situated people based on race.

4. Mass ImprisonmentDefinition • Mass imprisonment: refers to the high rate of imprisonment in the contemporary U.S. • Two characteristics: • A rate of imprisonment that is markedly above the historical and comparative norm for societies of this type. • Produces both the incarceration of individuals, and becomes the systematic imprisonment of whole groups of the population.

5. Mass ImprisonmentThe Data • 1,512,000 people in prison. • 792,000 people in jail. • Gross underestimate of the number of people that come in contact with the jail system. • Yearly estimates range between 7-10 million people. • 1 in 100 adults behind bars • ~2.3 million adults prison or jail • ~230 million adults in U.S.

6. Racial Disparities inMass Imprisonment • Men in prison or jail • All men 18 and over 1 in 54 • White men 18 and over 1 in 106 • Latino men 18 and over 1 in 36 • Black men 18 and over 1 in 15 • Black men 20-34 1 in 9 • Black men are ~6% of the U.S population but are ~39% of the male prison population

7. Racial Disparities in Mass Imprisonment

8. Racial Disparities in Mass Imprisonment North Carolina • NC prison population 2012—38,890 • Male—36,294 • Female—2,596 • Black—23,038~57% • White—14,222~35% • American Indian—771~2% • Other—2,590~6%

9. Racial Disparities in Mass Imprisonment NC Counties • Halifax—Total population=54,691 • Black—53.2% • White—40% • Prison population=321 • Black—252~78.5% • White—64~19.9% • Ratio Black to White prison population—3.94:1 • 25.3% difference b/w Black prison and county population

10. Mass CriminalizationDefinition • Mass criminalization: refers to the high rate of contact with the criminal justice system in the contemporary U.S. • Two characteristics: • A rate of contact with the criminal justice system that is markedly above the historical and comparative norm for societies of this type. • Produces both the criminalization of individuals, and becomes the systematic criminalization of whole groups of the population.

11. Mass CriminalizationThe Data • ~ 5 million people on probation or parole • At least 65 million people with a criminal record • ~ 230 million adults in the U.S. • ~ 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have a criminal record

12. Mass CriminalizationThe Data NC • ~ 104,000 people on probation or parole • At least 1.5 million people with a criminal record • ~7.3 million adults in NC • ~1 in 5 adults in NC have a criminal record

13. Mass CriminalizationThe Data

14. Racial Disparities in Mass Criminalization

15. Racial Disparities in Mass Criminalization North Carolina

16. Racial Disparities in Mass Criminalization North Carolina

17. Racial Disparities in Mass Criminalization North Carolina

18. Racial Disparities in Mass Criminalization North Carolina

19. Collateral Consequences, Social Stigma, and Defacto Discrimination • Collateral consequences: are the indirect consequences that flow from federal and state criminal convictions. • Over the past 30 years, collateral consequences have increased in variety and severity. • They are excluded from the criminal justice process. • Defendants often plead guilty without knowing about them.

20. Collateral Consequences • Examples include: • Felon disenfranchisement • Deportation or removal from the country • Loss of professional and occupational licenses • Loss of public benefits • Loss of federal financial aid • Loss of public housing • Mandatory registration for people convicted of predatory offenses • Loss of driver’s license • Termination of parental rights

21. Collateral Consequences • In response to the concerns about collateral consequences NC IDS and NC SOG respond with the Collateral Consequence Assessment Tool (C-CAT) • C-CAT is a web-based database that allows users to search the consequences associated with specific North Carolina criminal offenses. • The tool allows indigent defenders to advise their clients about the full ramifications of a criminal conviction.

22. SCSJ Areas of Advocacy • Community outreach and education • Direct services • Public policy advocacy • Impact litigation

23. Community Outreach and Education • Every mass movement must be led by those most intimately affected by the oppressive system • Advocates must engage and educate the community to ensure that the advocacy is always connected to the people. • SCSJ provides information to communities impacted by mass criminalization.

24. Direct Services • Reentry legal advocacy project– the goal is to provide services to low income people who have criminal records.  • The project serves clients with all types of criminal backgrounds from simple arrests and misdemeanors to multiple felony convictions.  • Legal assistance is offered in the following areas: • Drivers license restoration • Expunging of criminal records • Certificates of relief • Employment and occupational licensing opportunities • Child support issues related to incarceration • Obtaining public benefits.

25. Direct Services:Expungement • Expungement: is the legal process of erasing a criminal record. • NC does not have a blanket expungement provision. The state expunges specific crimes if you meet certain criteria. • Expungement erases officical “state” records however criminal record information may still be available via private databases.

26. Expungement • Examples of the categories of crimes NC will expunge • Misdemeanors committed under the age of 18 • Misdemeanor under age drinking • Misdemeanor larceny conviction over 10 years old • Charges that were dismissed or found NG • Nonviolent felonies under 18 • Cyberbullying

27. Direct Services:Certificates of Relief • Certificates of Relief from Disabilities: allows sentencing courts to issue orders that will relieve an individual from one or more collateral consequences. • 3 major benefits of certificates: • Relieves most collateral sanctions • Can be used as evidence of rehabilitation • Protects employers from negligent hiring lawsuit

28. Public Policy Advocacy:Ban the Box • Across the country advocates have been encouraging cities and counties to “ban the box.” • The “box” is that place on many employment applications that asks whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime.

29. What would a “Ban the Box” ordinance accomplish? • Remove criminal history questions from the initial employment application • Create a level playing field so people with criminal records can be evaluated on their qualifications • Facilitate more in-person interviews • Give people with criminal records the opportunity to: • Check the accuracy of the record • Explain the nature of the crime • Highlight any rehabilitative efforts

30. Impact Litigation • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. • The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Title VII. • Title VII prohibits both intentional discrimination and facially neutral policies and practices that have a disproportionate impact on certain groups. • Using arrest and conviction records to screen for employment is an example of the type of neutral selection criteria that invites Title VII scrutiny.

31. Impact Litigation • Title VII does not wholly bar the use of criminal records in employment decisions. • Instead, the EEOC has provided a framework for assessing criminal records when making an employment decision. • When making a decision an employer must consider: • The nature and gravity of the offense • The time that has passed since the conviction • The nature of the job held or sought

32. Questions and contact information • Daryl V. Atkinson • Staff Attorney • Southern Coalition for Social Justice • Daryl@scsj.org • 919-323-3380 ext.153