Prison Reentry Initiative

Office of the Mayor
165 Church Street, Second Floor
Tel. (203) 946-7658 / Fax (203) 946-7908
E-mail: ameek@newhavenct.net

MISSION
Launched in 2008, the Prison Reentry Initiative works with community partners, state agencies and other reentry stakeholders to support the reintegration of formerly incarcerated residents into the New Haven community.

FOR JOB SEEKERS: EMPLOYER INCENTIVES
Looking for work after a felony conviction? Make sure your potential employer knows about these programs!

Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program was created by U.S. Department of Labor in 1966 as an incentive to employers to hire job seekers who were “At Risk” and formerly classified as “Not Bondable” by commercial carriers, including people with conviction records. The bond is given to the employer free of charge for six months of coverage. After the six months has elapsed, employers can purchase additional bonding from Travelers if the worker has demonstrated job honesty under the original six month bond. The bond insures the employer for any type of stealing by theft, forgery, larceny or embezzlement.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Provides a tax credit to employers who hire individuals with felony convictions. Earn a Federal tax credit per qualified individual hired through the WOTC administered by the Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) Employment Services (ES) Operations Tax Credit Unit. It's easy: there is no limit on the number of people you can hire under this program, and only minimal paperwork must be filed to claim a tax credit.

REENTRY RESOURCES IN NEW HAVEN
Please note that the online version of the Reentry Resource Guide will be regularly updated - the date at the bottom of each page will reflect the most recent update. If you would like to suggest Additions or Corrections to the most recent version of the Guide, please send an email to the address listed above. Our goal is to continue to supplement this Guide with community feedback so that individuals returning from incarceration, their families, service providers and other stakeholders will be able to access the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about New Haven Reentry Resources. Hard copies of the Guide are available at New Haven City Hall. To obtain multiple hard copies, please contact the Prison Reentry Initiative in advance with your request.

New Haven Reentry Resource Guide
Interactive Reentry Resource Map (Note: May be hard to load on older computers)
Basic Needs Printable Maps (for those who cannot load the Interactive map and/or want to print a specific map)

OBTAINING IDENTIFICATION
Guide to Obtaining Birth Certificates in the 50 States
Birth Certificate Applications: New Haven, Puerto Rico and the 50 States
New Haven Bureau of Vital Statistics
Elm City Resident Card

"BAN THE BOX" ANTIDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE
Drafted by the City’s Community Services Administration, this ordinance—approved by the Board of Aldermen by a vote of 22 to 1 on February 17, 2009—removes from all City job applications the “box” or query relating to an applicant’s conviction history. Under this ordinance, the City may inquire about any conviction history an applicant may have only after it has made the applicant a provisional offer of employment on the basis of that individual’s qualifications. In addition, vendors contracting with the City must, under the ordinance, attest that they have hiring policies consistent with the City’s own.
  
Ban the Box Ordinance
Why Ban the Box?
New Haven Independent (December 15, 2008)
New Haven Register (March 5, 2009)

COMMUNITY CALENDARS
New Haven Reentry Roundtable
Pardon Hearing Dates
Parole Hearing Schedules

REENTRY NEWS
USA TODAY: Study could ease concerns over hiring ex-offenders
'Redemption' in an Era of Widespread Criminal Background Checks
What's Wrong With Our Prisons?

OTHER USEFUL LINKS
2-1-1 Searchable Database of Reentry Resources
Building Bridges: From Conviction to Employment (2003)
Connecticut Law About Criminal Records
Connecticut Pardon Team, Inc.
Department of Correction Transition Guide
GNH Community
Open Society Institute: Justice Reinvestment
Reentry Policy Council
Reentry Net (NYC)
Prison Reentry (Urban Institute)
National Reentry Resource Center