After You are Out

by | Jun 8, 2022 | Blog, Featured, Resources

Things to Do Right Away*

*Adapted, with permission, from the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) publication, Going Home 2022: A Guide for BPI Students Returning to New York City.

This section describes ten key tasks you should try to complete soon after returning home:

1. Check in with parole

2. Create an e-mail account(s) and get a cell phone

3. Visit the public library*

4. Apply for public assistance

5. Update your resume

6. Acquire a New York State ID

7. Request a free credit report and start building your credit

8. Request your rap sheet

9. Understand your rights: employment and voting

10. Manage your mandatory program schedule (for those on parole)

*Though visiting the library may not be an obvious priority, you might consider going there right after checking in with parole, since the resources at any New York public library can help with everything else. New York City libraries lend out briefcases, handbags, ties, and other essential items for interviewing. Furthermore, not only can you get on a computer with Internet access for free, library staff can help you navigate the web and get you plugged in to all the city’s resources. Maybe more important than that, people who work in libraries treat their work like a mission. You won’t find more helpful people anywhere!

1.  Check in with parole

This goes without saying, and there isn’t much more to say—check in with parole! You’ll have the name and address of your parole officer in your release papers. And while you’re there, ask about applying for a non-driver ID card.

2. Create an e-mail account(s) and get a cell phone

Networking is the name of the game, and you’ll need an email to participate. And most potential employers will contact
you via email. So it is vital that you have one, otherwise you might miss out on some great opportunities. You might also want to do some online shopping or perhaps you’ll visit a website that requires an email address before providing some sort of service. Consider having at least two email addresses. One for important correspondences like job applications and bills, and one for less important things like shopping and e-newsletters. Also, don’t forget that you can always block junk emails. Go to the bottom of the email, and you’ll find some version of an “unsubscribe” button. Email accounts require a user name and a password. Think
carefully about both, especially your user name. Your user name is the identifying information you give to anyone you want to stay in touch with, and it appears automatically on every email you send. It should be memorable and professional. An example of a good username for someone
named Michael Washington is michaelwashington@gmail.com,
but this name might not be available. In the event your name has already been taken, the email program will offer you acceptable alternatives. Again, try to pick something easy for people to remember. One alternative might be to use your initials or one initial and a name or number: mwashington212@gmail.com, is a good example; mwton37458@gmail.com is not.

Cell phones have become ubiquitous, and necessary. You can walk into a drugstore, buy a prepaid cell phone for as little as $10, without a credit check, and walk out talking. If this appeals to you, look for TracFone as a reputable prepaid cell phone carrier. A prepaid phone is the cheapest way to start out, but if you don’t keep track of your usage, you’ll end up running out of minutes at the most inopportune time. Another thing about prepaid phones: they are not a great option if you’ll be using your phone to surf the web a lot; internet usage drains your data allotment quickly. Before you make any decisions about your first phone, consider this: your mobile number, like your email address, should stay with you for life. When you change either one, it’s a struggle to update your contacts so that people can still reach you-and take it from us, you will soon have many contacts. So whatever plan you start with, make sure the carrier you select offers “portable” phone numbers; this means your number can be transferred to another carrier if you decide to switch providers later on. You could also consider not giving everyone your phone number. It’s perfectly fine to say you’d prefer to be contacted by email for now. If you give out a mobile number to 100 people during your first month out and then disconnect the line, people who call will receive the suspicious message “this line is no longer active,” which translates to: you couldn’t afford to pay your phone bill.

Free Cell Phones

If the TracFone is beyond your budget, free phones are available. Two services currently offer free cell phones with free monthly minutes. Because this federally funded program started under President Obama, the phones they give out are commonly referred to as “Obama phones.” The first distributor is SafeLink Wireless; the second is Assurance Wireless. They are very similar programs with virtually the same eligibility requirements. In terms of eligibility, both companies require that you either be participating in a government assistance program (like Medicaid, food stamps, or Section 8) or have an income of not more than 135 percent of the federal poverty level. Most people report about a one-month wait to receive the phone. Be sure to ask your caseworker about free phones during your first visit to HRA. If you want to apply for a free phone with either or both of these programs, you can do so on the internet or by phone:
SafeLink Wireless
safelinkwireless.com
800-SAFELINK
Assurance Wireless
assurancewireless.com
888-898-4888
ourteam@assurancewireless.com

3. Visit the Public Library

Everyone knows that every public library has computers with internet access that you can use for free. You probably also know that they offer the cheapest printing and copy services anywhere. You can even get help perfecting your resume. The New York Public Library (NYPL) system also lends neckties, bow ties, handbags, and briefcases for job interviews and more. With a public library card, you can now get free access to dozens of New York’s major cultural institutions when coupled with a”Culture Pass.” To understand how it works and learn where you can go with Culture Pass, check out the NYPL’s Culture Pass website here.

So the public library is a perfect place to go to check your email, search for jobs, email friends and family, make a virtual copy of your resume, have a few hard copies of your resume printed out, surf the web, check out books and DVDs, make copies of important documents, prep for an interview, plan a day of activities, or just hang out and kill some time on a rainy day. The library also offers free courses in internet use, basic computer skills, and Microsoft Office. Also, if you end up with an Apple laptop, check out any Apple store around town for free tutorials throughout the year.
Gaining access to everything the library offers requires only a library card, which couldn’t be easier to get. If you have a New York State ID, you can have a free library card in five minutes.
The best part of public libraries might be their ubiquity. No matter where you are in the city, a public library is likely close by. To find a location near you, just dial 311 from any phone or go online and Google search “NYPL.”

4. Apply for Public Assistance, if eligible

If you plan to live in a transitional house in New York City, you might have to pay some rent and be required to apply for public assistance, which will cover up to $215 per month. If you cannot afford the additional rent payment, ask your case worker about “rent assistance.” Remember, public assistance is only a temporary solution for a lack of money-it barely cures the “empty pockets” disease–and it comes with strings attached. No one wants to be under the thumb of a government bureaucracy after years of being in prison. However, public assistance may be a necessity at first. Most returning citizens will qualify for public assistance. The following questions and answers should be helpful to anyone who may need to apply for public assistance.

What Is Public Assistance?

The term “public assistance” refers to a wide range of state-sponsored resources available to people who need help. The public assistance benefits most relevant to formerly-incarcerated people are temporary cash assistance (commonly known as welfare), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (also known as food stamps), and Medicaid. Keep in mind, you are not required to enroll in all of these, and cash assistance comes with the most strings.

Temporary Cash Assistance

New York State has two programs offering up to two years of cash assistance to individuals, and up to five years to families.

The Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program helps families, and the New York State Safety Net Assistance (SNA) program assists individuals without children. Both include monthly disbursements for rent, energy bills, and general expenses, among other things. They also include disbursements covering transportation for people enrolled in approved work programs. If you accept cash assistance, you could be required to participate in a time-consuming, back-to-work program. Or, you can replace the back-to-work program with college enrollment. You’ll need documentation from your HRA/DSS counselor. Course registration forms will do the trick. It’s crucial to know that getting a part-time job will likely result in your public assistance case being closed. Even if you make only $640 a month (before taxes, which is what they go by), your case can be closed. The good news is that, although the state cuts off your cash assistance immediately if you get a part-time job, it will likely continue your Medicaid and food-stamp benefits for at least three months, and sometimes up to one year, after your case officially closes. During this three-month period, you will have to reapply for these benefits separately if you want to keep them.

Who is exempt from participating in Public Assistance work activities?*

*Adapted from Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. https://www.lawny.org/node/38/public-assistance-and-work-requirements.

The following is a list of ways that people can be exempt from Public Assistance work activities:

  • If you are under age 16;
  • If you are under age 19 and attending high school, vocational school, or technical school full time;
  • If you are 60 years of age or older;
  • If you are ill or injured and unable to participate in work activities for up to 3 months;
  • If you are determined to be disabled or incapacitated by DSS;
  • If you are needed in the home to care for another family member who has a physical or mental impairment. You must be the only one able to care for that person;
  • If you are in the last 30 days of pregnancy, with medical proof of the due date;
  • If you are the parent or caretaker relative of a child under 3 months old and you are actually caring for the child.  This exemption can be extended by DSS for up to 12 months. However, there is a 12-month lifetime maximum.

Participation means spending 35 hours a week in “active work activities,” which might mean nothing more than online searching for a job in an “approved office environment” or, perhaps, doing an unpaid internship at a municipal building. While these activities are required to receive the cash assistance many people need when they first go home, keep in mind that they rarely lead to stable, meaningful employment.

*A big change occurred in 2015: college enrollment now fulfills the back-to-work requirement for public assistance.

The job-search activities you are required to do in order to receive public assistance occur at various organizations contracted by the government to put individuals back to work. If you get cash assistance, you will be required to be at a back-to-work site from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless you have a work assignment. If you have a work assignment, no matter how many hours it is (and everyone gets one before long), you are required to be at the job-search site for the remainder of the 35 hours a week not covered by the assignment. For instance, you might do a work assignment at a government building for 20 hours a week and spend the remaining 15 hours searching for employment at the job-search site. Having to comply with this mandate can be frustrating and feel like a waste of time.

Food Stamps

The food stamps of today are not the food stamps of yesterday. Like the old subway token, the crisp Monopoly money that you once had to tear noisily out of coupon books and present to the cashier has been replaced. Nowadays, “food stamps” are electronically loaded into an account, and you spend them by discreetly swiping a card on the very same machine on which you would swipe a credit or debit card. Food stamps are accepted by most grocery stores in lieu of cash. You can even use them at the many fresh-produce Green markets you’ll find all over the city. For locations, go to: grownyc.org/greenmarket/ebt.

Medicaid

Medicaid is free health insurance for income-eligible people. If you receive temporary cash assistance, you are automatically eligible. As soon as you begin to receive temporary cash assistance, you will be placed on pending status. Don’t worry, you can still utilize services from providers that require health insurance. Once you’re approved for Medicaid, you become an official recipient. As long as you continue to receive public assistance, or if you remain income eligible despite making too much to receive public assistance, you qualify for Medicaid. To see if you qualify, visit what New York State calls the “Marketplace” at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. The Marketplace uses a single application that helps people check their eligibility for healthcare programs like Medicaid. If you are eligible, you can enroll in Medicaid here. If you’re not eligible, you can compare insurance options, calculate costs, select coverage, and buy healthcare through this website as well.

Where to Apply for Public Assistance

There are a few options. For those of you returning to NYC, you can apply for public assistance at what the state calls “Job Centers.” Do a search for “NYC Job Centers” for a map where all of the locations, along with phone numbers, are listed. It’s even possible to complete the application and get this benefit from your mobile device. Do a Google search for “NYC Access HRA” or download the app. Or call 718-557-1399 to have the application mailed to you. Keep in mind though, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people applying for public assistance are directed to either Access HA or myBenefits.ny.gov, where you can apply for Medicaid, SNAP, or cash assistance. So whether you’re returning to Upstate or to NYC, you might want to consider this option first. If you applied for Medicaid before your release, you’ll have to contact the NYS Department of Health and inform them that your address has changed. This can be done over the phone, and it’s very likely that the person assisting you will ask if you want an application for SNAP or cash assistance. If not, be sure to ask and you’ll receive an application in the mail. You’ll also need to gather some documentation to prove your eligibility. Once you fill it out and return the application, it won’t take long before you start to receive benefits.

A word of advice about applying in person: when you decide which office you’ll be visiting, arrive 15 minutes before it opens. It’s a slow process and you don’t want to be at the back of a long line. The initial stage of applying for Medicaid generally takes a day and includes filling out various forms and being interviewed by a caseworker. But, keep in mind. you don’t have to wait until you get home. You can start this process shortly before your release, and it won’t take nearly as long. You can walk out of prison with your Medicaid card in your pocket.
Once you’re enrolled (and released), you’ll be informed that you have to choose a health insurance program. You’ll also have to choose a primary care provider (this can be a doctor or a nurse) who accepts both Medicaid and your health insurance plan provider (such as Excellus, etc.). All of this can be done online. At this point, the process can get quite complicated and frustrating. If it does, call NYS Department of Health: 1-855-355-5777 or Google search “primary care doctors near me that accept Medicaid.”

5. Update your resume

You walked out with a resume draft. The next step is to reach out to reentry providers for next steps. They’ll help you format it properly for submitting online.
One of the first things you will want to do when you are at the public library, or when you get a laptop, is log into your Google account and type your resume out in Google Docs. This will make it easier for other people to help you revise and submit your resume. And remember, the reentry service provider you’re working with may recommend some dramatic changes to your resume. That’s fine. Make an alternative version. Just be sure to keep the original one you worked on while inside to use
as a reference.

6. Apply for a New York State ID

You want to get rid of that DOCCS ID as soon as possible, and here’s how: use it to
get a New York State ID.

Acquiring a New York State ID card requires a trip to a place that has for years suffered the indignity of being a metaphor for senseless waiting and detours down bureaucratic rabbit holes: the Department of Motor Vehicles. But, it’s actually gotten a lot better in recent years. And if you are on parole in Manhattan, you can find the DMV desk located in the same building where you are visiting your PO. You can receive a dignified state-issued non-drivers identification card within two weeks if you arrive with the necessary documentation in hand, with one caveat: the same legal name must appear on your:  1. birth certificate, 2. social security card, 3. release papers*, and 4. ID card from DOCCS.

*Be sure to keep both the green and yellow copies of your release papers. You never know which one will be required.

7. Request a free credit report and start building your credit

It’s expensive being broke! One of the most obvious examples of this is banking. If you have a bad credit score, you’ll have a hard time getting a free checking account at a reputable bank, not to mention the credit card that usually comes with it. Instead, you could get stuck paying fees to cash your checks, send money, pay bills, and handle other basic financial functions that a good bank account gives you for free. For this and lots of other reasons, you want to know your credit score–it’s free, so why not? Your credit report is generated from an exhaustive analysis of your entire financial history, and it often has errors. You can fix them, but it takes time, so get to it! If you notice errors or just have questions about an item on your credit report, you’ll need to write a letter to the reporting agency highlighting the issues.

If you have been incarcerated for over seven years, do not be surprised that your credit inquiry reveals that you do not have a credit history. If your credit accounts have been inactive for over seven years, negative information from the past will not appear. This includes late or missed payments, accounts that have been sent to collections, and even bankruptcies. However, let’s be clear, this does not mean that the debt disappears.

Credit reports are free of charge but many are not hassle free. Many companies have seized the opportunity to enroll you in other services when all you want is the credit report you are entitled to. Here’s a site that’s truly free: consumer.ftc.gov.

8. Request your rap sheet

You might think a detailed account of your arrests is the last thing you want in your possession. But occasions will arise–while applying for a job or licensing or filling out a housing application–when the details are the difference between moving forward and being flat-out denied, based solely on the felony conviction that will appear on your background check. You know, better than most, that convictions paint with broad strokes. And while you will have the opportunity to explain your situation, it always helps to be able to back up your story with a paper trail. Some companies, especially larger ones, often require an official and detailed statement of the incident. Rap sheets can contain mistakes. Some of the most common ones are incomplete or incorrect entries, double entries, open warrants that are actually closed, and cases that should be sealed. And make no mistake, the new “ban the box” legislation does not mean your conviction has magically become irrelevant–it just won’t prevent you from getting an interview. Many employers make all job offers contingent on background checks.
The rap sheet is not the only document that serves this purpose. Because rap sheets read like indexes rather than narratives, they are often insufficient to allay employers’ concerns. In these instances, you might consider sharing the presentencing report, a witness statement, the judge’s sentencing remarks, parole stipulations, or other documents. (If you don’t have these, consider contacting the court where you were sentenced. Lawyers can only keep these files for up to seven years.) The key point is that you should be familiar with all documentation that describes what happened in your case, so that you can manage all inquiries honestly and effectively. You don’t want a decision being made about your application based on a novice’s internet search or an erroneous document you didn’t even know existed.

You should be able to find request forms in the prison law library. They are easy to fill out. You can also simply write a request letter. If you haven’t been able to acquire your rap sheet while inside, don’t worry. You can send a request letter or request form to:
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Record Review Unit
Alfred E. Smith Office Building
80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
Or call the New York State Unified Court System at 212-428-2810.
Your request letter/request form must include your name, alias, DOB, DIN, NYS ID (if applicable), race, gender, and Social Security number.
Rap-sheet requests cost about $60; be sure to ask DCJS about a fee waiver.

9. Understanding your rights: employment and voting

Employment

You’ve heard a lot about what kinds of jobs you can’t have (most of which won’t affect you anyway). Plenty of exciting and interesting work opportunities are waiting for eager, smart, and dedicated people like you. That said, you should not expect anyone out there to understand the rules of your liminal existence (presuming you’re on parole). Prepare yourself to answer questions about what you are and are not permitted to do. You should have a firm handle on these things before leaving.

Also, be prepared to educate prospective employers about the federal tax benefits of hiring a formerly incarcerated person, called the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and the insurance protection offered by the federal government, called the Federal Bonding Program. Do not expect these to be decisive factors–if employers don’t want you, they won’t change their minds to save a few dollars on their taxes or to minimize their financial liability–but these incentives do sweeten the pot.

Additionally, Article 23A was created to protect returning citizens from discrimination based on past convictions when looking for employment. However, keep in mind employers have a certain amount of discretion when associating past convictions with current positions. For example, if you have a past conviction for fraud or robbery, a bank can legally deny you a position after giving you the offer for a position.

Voting

If you had a flat bid, don’t waste another minute. You just need to register.

State Board of Elections, Albany, NY
(518) 474-6220
www.elections.ny.gov/
Board of Elections in the City of New York
(866) VOTE-NYC, (866) 868-3692
https://vote.nyc/

If you’re on parole, ask your PO for information about submitting an application for a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities (CRD). If approved, your right to vote will be restored while you’re still on parole.

10. Manage your mandatory program schedule (for those on parole)

If you will be under parole supervision when you come home, you are likely going to be mandated to some programs. These will be familiar to you. ASAT, Anger Management, etc., you know the list. And having done them inside, even multiple times, doesn’t satisfy parole’s requirements. But there is a key difference. Outside, you have the freedom to schedule these to best meet your needs. That’s right. Your PO might tell you about an organization that offers the mandated
program, they might even recommend one, but that doesn’t mean you have to go there. This is an important area for you to exercise some discretion and your new-found freedom. It’s not uncommon for programs to be scheduled right in the middle of the day, and this obviously doesn’t accommodate a working schedule. But most organizations offer multiple program times. You just need to ask. Check out the Reentry services listed on this website and in the New York Public Library publication, Connections 2021: A free guide for formerly incarcerated people in New York City to find organizations that offer parole-approved, mandated programs. These days many of these are remote, too. Be sure to ask your reentry provider if you need assistance building a program schedule that works for you.