A reentry resource guide for overcoming barriers from arrest and conviction records.
Lowering Barriers from Arrest and Conviction Records
Lowering Barriers to Employment
Legal Relief Options
Local Reentry Organizations
Employment
Education
Emergency Shelter/Food
Medical, Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Medical Insurance
Legal Assistance Organizations
Financial Assistance
Crisis Hotlines
Veterans
Other Resources
Lowering Barriers from Arrest and Conviction Records – First Steps
- Gather Evidence of Rehabilitation: Strategies to convince an employer, landlord, government agency, or other decision maker to give you a fair chance when you have an arrest or conviction record.
- Write an Effective Personal Statement: Tell employers and others about the positive changes you have made since the time of your last conviction.
- Write an Effective Letter of Reference: A useful template your personal references can use to effectively address concerns employers may have about your conviction record.
- Navigating Background Checks: Prepare for a background check, anticipate hard questions, and speak wisely about your conviction history.
- Rap Sheets: Why you need to get your RAP Sheet and understand what is on it.
- A Self-Help Guide to Parole Preparation in New York State: For people who have upcoming appearances before the New York State Board of Parole.
Lowering Barriers to Employment
- Getting Ready for Employment: Background checks, record sealing, what NY employers can legally ask applicants about their arrest and conviction history, NYS Cannabis Law, job application preparation with a record, and more.
- Applying for Jobs in New York: A one-page flyer about legal protections for people with arrests or convictions.
- Applying for Occupational and Professional Licenses: Individuals with conviction records often undergo “moral character” investigations by licensing agencies. Learn how to prepare, what to expect at a licensing hearing.
- Getting to Work with a Criminal Record: New York State License Guides: Learn the process for obtaining licenses in 25 high-demand occupations.
Legal Relief (Clean Slate, Certificates of Rehabilitation, Record Sealing, and More)
- NYS Clean Slate: How automatic record sealing works.
- NYS Clean Slate: A presentation about the 2023 NYS Clean Slate legislation, record sealing, Certificates of Rehabilitation, and strengthening job and housing applications.
- Certificates of Rehabilitation: What they are and how they improve your chances of getting a job or an occupational license.
- Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or Certificate of Good Conduct?: A side-by-side comparison.
- Apply for a Certificate of Relief or Good Conduct: Download an application directly from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
- Answers to Frequently Asked Legal Questions: Record Sealing & Expungement, Certificates of Relief from Disabilities & Good Conduct, Workplace Rights, HIV and Employment, Substance Use Disorders and Employment, and more.
- How to Recognize and Address Discrimination: Important info for New Yorkers who have heard things like “Oh, I’m sorry, we only hire people with clean records,” OR “You’re HIV positive? We’ll have to refer you to a different dentist.”
- Know Your Voting Rights: A brief, one page informational flyer.
- Know Your Rights: Marijuana Legalization & What it Means for New Yorkers: Learn about New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the legalization of cannabis possession and recreational use in the state, implications for housing and employment, rules about home-growing and licensing of cannabis-related business, expungement or reduction of old convictions related to cannabis, and more.
- Know Your Rights: New York’s New Marijuana Expungement Law: A brief, one page informational flyer.
Local Reentry Organizations
- Reentry Association of Western NY: The Reentry One-Stop, together with its partner agencies, provides support to people returning from any type of incarceration with housing, health care, treatment, jobs, vocational training, peer mentors, recreational activities, civil legal assistance, obtaining birth certificates and ID, applying for public benefits, transportation, and more.
- Judicial Process Commission: Help getting and reviewing RAP Sheets, Certificates of Rehabilitation, mentoring, and more.
- Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY): Help with record sealing, employment discrimination, job clearance for background checks, and more.
- Center for Community Alternatives (CCA): Supports and builds power with people across New York State who have been affected by mass incarceration, criminalization and community disinvestment. CCA’s CORE Center promotes substance use recovery, builds resilience, and inspires hope through recovery education, peer workforce development, and skill-building activities.
- Delphi Rise Reentry: Case management for people released from NYS prisons to meet treatment and counseling, housing, and employment needs. People returning from local jail or federal incarceration may be eligible for Health Homes Care Management program.
- Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach: Residential wraparound support services for individuals re-entering the community from jail or prison.
- Pathstone Reentry Services: Tuition assistance for trainings and certifications in high-demand industries and help with job placement support for justice-involved young adults ages 18-24.
Employment Services
- RochesterWorks!: Your local source for career exploration, training, and jobs.
- The Prime Objective: A NYSDOL job seeking guide for people impacted by incarceration. Even if getting a job isn’t your first priority, this document contains useful information about:
- Basic needs and potential NYS Benefit assistance
- Securing important identification documents
- Certificates of Rehabilitation
- Getting and correcting your RAP Sheet
- Your rights, and much more!
- NYSDOL Federal Bonding Program: A unique tool that gives employers an incentive to “take a chance” on a job candidate with one or more barriers to employment. Click here for English video and click here for Spanish video.
- Reentry Jobseeker Toolkit: A NYSDOL checklist to consider before you apply for a job.
- NYS Department of Labor (DOL) Reentry Information: Reentry information for people who are justice-involved.
- NYSDOL Virtual Resources Calendar: Classes, workshops, job fairs, job clubs, informational sessions, and recruitment opportunities with numerous companies.
- NYSDOL Career Development Resources: Helpful information about resumes, cover letters and job applications, job search and networking, interviewing, career assessment and development, and much more.
- NYSDOL InterviewStream: A free, web-based mock interview program to improve your interviewing skills; record an interview and re-watch it or submit it to the website where a workforce advisor can view the video and provide feedback.
- NYSDOL Earn While You Learn Apprenticeship Program: Earn a paycheck while you learn a skilled trade.
- Pathstone Workforce Development: Targeted education, training, and employment support services that allow people to improve their opportunities in life.
- Center for Employment Opportunities: Exclusively serves people who have recently returned home from incarceration.
- Job Seekers Toolkit – Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Borrow resources for career planning, resume writing, cover letters, test preparation books, educational planning, and much more.
- Business Insight Center – Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Interested in starting or taking your own business to the next level? Develop your competitive edge here!
- NYS Education Department ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation): Assisting individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living.
Education
- OACES – Office of Adult and Career Education Services, Rochester City School District: GED and ESOL programs, automotive technologies, electrical trades, and culinary arts.
- Literacy Rochester: Tutoring in reading, math, ESOL and Digital Literacy such as basic computer skills, online work and learning, resumes, job applications, and more!
- Rochester Educational Opportunity Center: Community-based academic and career development programs with support services for adult learners.
- Get your GED – a high school equivalent diploma
- Find and Sign Up for a High School Equivalency Test Center Near You
- NYS Adult Career & Continuing Education Services
- Monroe Community College
- Northstar Digital Literacy: Free assessments that measure your current computer, software, and technology skills.
- Rochester Justice Education Initiative: Empowering incarcerated students through rigorous academic programming.
Emergency Shelter/Food and more
- Emergency Housing: If you are in need of emergency housing, go to the Monroe County Department of Human Services at 691 St. Paul Street during normal business hours (8am-4pm) or call the After Hours line at (585) 442-1742 for assistance on nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Emergency Shelters and Free Meals in Rochester: Last page includes information about temporary financial assistance in Monroe County.
- Foodlink Food Locator Tool: Find local food pantries, community meal programs, and curbside markets in the Greater Rochester Area 10-county service area.
- Person Centered Housing Options: Housing First programming, case management, more.
- The Housing Council: Tenant services, FAQs, and free resources
- Rochester Housing Authority: Rental Assistance Programs
Medical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Services
- St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center: Can’t afford to go to the doctor? SJNC can help. They offer medical care, mental health counseling, and many other services for the uninsured and under-insured.
- His Branches: community health center for all ages with neighborhood-based clinics in Rochester’s 19th Ward and Beechwood.
- Trillium Health: affordable, high-quality primary and specialty care, including LGBTQ-affirming health care. We believe in extraordinary care for all, regardless of ability to pay.
- Regional Health Reach: Quality comprehensive primary medical care to homeless persons in the city of Rochester and the greater Rochester area
- Spiritus Christi Mental Health Center: Mental health care and support at no charge for those who have no insurance or who are unable to afford the cost of care.
- Monroe County Mental Health Service Providers: comprehensive list of community mental health service providers that contract with the County.
- Monroe County Addiction Service Providers: comprehensive list of community addiction service providers that contract with the County.
- CHAMP: Do you need help accessing Addiction or Mental Health Care? Call the Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP) Hotline.
Medical Insurance
- LawNY, CCSI, and Neighborhood Legal Services: Contact a Healthcare Navigator! They can help you or your family obtain the right health insurance for your needs at the best cost. They don’t work for an insurance company, so they aren’t biased or trying to sell a policy.
- Lifespan: Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. Contact a NYS-certified Medicare counselor and take the guesswork out of how to sign up or what plan to choose.
- NYS Essential Health Plan: No Premium for those who qualify and no Deductible, dental and vision benefits included without co-pays, and FREE Preventative Care like routine doctor exams and screenings.
- NYS Child Health Plus: NYS’s health insurance plan for kids.
- Medicaid: Learn about this comprehensive healthcare coverage and the eligibility guidelines.
- I.O.U. Means Insurance Owes You: A presentation about paying for mental health and addiction care.
Legal Assistance Organizations
- LAWNY Reentry Project: Free legal aid to people with criminal legal problems in western New York.
- JustCause: Connects low-income Monroe County residents with private pro bono volunteer attorneys for specified civil legal matters.
- LawHelpNY: An online tool for helping low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. If you have an arrest or conviction record, click here.
- Legal Aid Society of Rochester: Attorney for the Child (AFC) Unit, education law, domestic violence legal services, housing and consumer law, immigration law.
- Empire Justice: Litigation, policy, and training.
- Legal Action Center: A wealth of information for people impacted by the criminal legal system.
Financial and I.D. Assistance
- Am I Eligible for NYS Benefits?: Food stamps, financial assistance, etc.
- Temporary Financial Assistance in Monroe County and here.
- SSI and SSDI for Formerly Incarcerated Persons. Spanish version here.
- How to Obtain Critical Identification (ID) Documents: Information about Social Security cards, NYS non-driver ID cards, Monroe County birth certificates, etc.
Crisis Hotlines
- Crisis Hotlines and Walk-in Resources in Monroe County: Local and national hotlines for addiction, mental health, and other challenges; mobile crisis teams; community-based walk-in programs; drug and alcohol recovery supports; and more.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- 211/LIFE LINE: Information and referral for crisis and social services in Rochester and Monroe County. 211 can be searched by key word or topic. Or, call “211” anytime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to speak with someone about your resource questions or needs.
- MyWayFinder: Find and connect with local education, health, and human service providers and programs using the free MyWayfinder community resource directory.
- Lifeline Phone Bill discount service: A federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet services.
Veterans
- Veterans Outreach Center
- NYSDOL Veterans Services
- Monroe County Veterans Service Agency
- New York State Division of Veterans’ Services
- New York State Operation Recognition – granting of HS Diploma
- US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA)
- USDVA Veterans Justice Outreach Program – If you know a veteran who is incarcerated, have them contact the Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator in their area. In the Rochester area, call (585) 208-2108.
- ROC Veterans: An up-to-date Veterans information portal dedicated to connecting the Finger Lakes veteran community to a wide range of area veteran organizations and services.
- The Veterans Defense Program (VDP): Provides training and legal assistance to attorneys defending veterans and service members in the family and criminal court systems with a treatment-oriented mitigation approach leading to family restoration and reintegration into society.
Other Resources
- Willow Domestic Violence Center: a wide range of emergency and non-emergency support for victims of domestic violence.
- Lifespan’s Services for Older Adults and Caregivers
- Monroe County Office for the Aging
- Dress for Success: Helping unemployed and under employed women achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
- The Child Care Council: Child Care Resources in Monroe, Wayne & Livingston Counties
- Public Transportation in the Rochester Area: Public Transportation in the Rochester Area
