The Collateral Consequences Resource Center and its partner organizations, the National Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers, the National
Legal Aid and Defender Association,
and the National
HIRE Network, are
pleased to announce the launch of the newly expanded and fully updated Restoration
of Rights Project.
The
Restoration of Rights Project is an online resource that offers state-by-state
analyses of the law and practice in each U.S. jurisdiction relating to
restoration of rights and status following arrest or conviction. Jurisdictional
“profiles” cover areas such as loss and restoration of civil rights and
firearms rights, judicial and executive mechanisms for avoiding or mitigating
collateral consequences, and provisions addressing non-discrimination in
employment and licensing. Each jurisdiction’s information is separately
summarized for quick reference.
In
addition to the jurisdictional profiles, a set of 50-state comparison charts
summarizes the law and illustrates national patterns in restoration laws and
policies. We expect to supplement these
resources in weeks to come with jurisdiction-specific information about
organizations that may be able to assist individuals in securing relief, and
information on other third-party resources.
The
resources that comprise the Restoration of Rights Project were originally
published in 2006 by CCRC Executive Director Margaret Love, and the profiles
and comparison charts have expanded over the years to broaden their scope and to
account for the many changes in this complex area of the law. The project has
recently been hosted by CCRC and NACDL, and its resources have been published in
the treatise on collateral consequences published jointly by NACDL and Thompson
Reuters (West).
Project
resources have now been re-organized into a unified online platform that makes
them easier to access, use, and understand.
The short “postcard” summaries of the law in each state -- which serve
as a gateway to more detailed information -- have also been reviewed and
revised to provide a more current and accurate snapshot of applicable law in each
state.
The
Project is intended as a resource for practitioners in all phases of the
criminal justice system, for courts, for civil practitioners assisting clients
whose court-imposed sentence has exposed them to additional civil penalties,
for policymakers and advocates interested in reentry and reintegration of
convicted persons, and for the millions of Americans with a criminal record who
are seeking to put their past behind them.
The
Restoration of Rights Project is available now at:
Find your jurisdiction
Additional Resources
NACDL Press and Thompson Reuters (West) released this treatise on collateral consequences by Margaret Colgate Love, Jenny Roberts & Cecelia M. Klingele, Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction: Law, Policy and Practice (NACDL/West, 2nd Ed. 2016). This volume is a comprehensive resource for practicing civil and criminal lawyers, judges and policymakers on the legal restrictions and penalties that result from a criminal conviction over and above the court-imposed sentence. Available for purchase here.
Disclaimer
The information in the profiles is solely for educational and informational purposes, and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy and currency, the law in this area is complex, voluminous, and constantly changing. Therefore, users are cautioned to research and verify the information independently at an official source. Nor does the interpretation of particular laws and rules on this website represent the official view of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. A date at the top of each profile and chart indicates the last time it was revised.