Project of Beacon Law, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources)
KFT 9747 .L63
Originally published by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources), Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry addresses some of the most common barriers previously incarcerated individuals face upon their release from prison. The guide is intended to smooth the transition from living in confinement to surviving in mainstream society. The authors address issues that many take for granted, including obtaining identification documents, finding access to transportation, paying offense-related debt, mitigating criminal records through expunction or nondisclosure, finding employment, qualifying for public benefits, locating housing, and regaining the eligibility to vote. Another topic to consider is the collateral consequences of conviction, such as the possession of a firearm and eligibility for benefits. Incarceration also creates barriers in the parent-child relationship. As a result of the incarceration, the newly released parent may have difficulty locating a child or may be responsible for any accrued, unpaid child support. Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry is intended to help in this regard. The appendices are especially helpful, consisting of handy tables, the steps needed to obtain certain records and documents, and sample court forms. The guide doesn’t provide all of the answers, but it does offer much information and many resources to find those answers. An online version of this guide is available on TexasLawHelp.org.
In addition to the Texas Legal Guide to Reentry, there are some additional resources that can be found online:
Federal Trade Commission’s Reentry and Corrections Education page - Helpful information designed to assist reentering and formerly incarcerated consumers learn about managing money, meeting educational goals, earning a living, and knowing what to expect from a background check.
City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education - Re-Entry Programs - List of community partners that may be able to provide some assistance, including Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Houston Food Bank, and Goodwill Houston.
Houston Health Department - Community Re-Entry Network Program - Program components include anger management, life skills course, and peer support groups.