The Double Bind: Obstacles to Employment and Resources for Survivors of the Criminal Justice System

In Pennsylvania, individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system, regardless of the outcome of their case(s), are marked for life.This mark, in the form of criminal history record information, attaches a wide range of collateral consequences that expand an individual's punishment beyond that which is originally contemplated by the criminal justice system.Generally, collateral consequences are indirect civil penalties that spring from criminal convictions. 1 Collateral consequences often have a negative impact on employment, 2 housing (public 3 and private 4 ), public benefits, 5 occupational licensing, 6 voting rights, 7 immigration status, 8 and social stigma.In Pennsylvania, even non-conviction data, such as arrests not leading to conviction, acquittals, or not guilty verdicts are part of an individual's criminal history record *Mr.Hancock is an Assistant Chief Counsel with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Commonwealth's civil rights agency and co-founder of the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity's Criminal Record Expungement Project (C-REP).For the past two years, Mr. Hancock has co-convened the Drexel Summer Theory Institute at the Earle Mack School of Law.I would like to the staff and volunteers of C-REP for their tireless work and passion.Without the contributions of Michael Lee, Esq.,