How-to-Gather-Evidence-of-Rehabilitation.pdf

Legal Action Center | (212) 243 1313 | www.lac.org | 225 Varick Street, 4th oor, New York, NY 10014

This document is informational and does not constitute legal advice. ©Legal Action Center, 2022

How to Gather Evidence

of Rehabilitation

How can you help convince an employer, landlord, government agency,

or other decision maker to give you a fair chance when you have an arrest

or conviction record?

One w

ay is to show details about your accomplishments and positive

experiences since your most recent conviction.

Evidence that you have done any of the below activities can help you show

“rehabilitation.” Rehabilitation includes positive steps you have taken since

the date of your most recent oﬀense.

SCHOOL

Have you been in school? If so, try to get:

• a transcript

AND

• a letter from a teacher or school administrator who

can truthfully say that you:

» were in school, are in school, or completed school

and for how long

» had great attendance and punctuality

» had excellent grades, and/or

» are motivated to learn and get ahead in life.

JOB TRAINING

Have you attended a job training program? If so, get

proof of your participation. Try to get a letter from a

program supervisor or administrator, if that person

can truthfully say that you:

• participated or are now participating and for how

long you had or have had great attendance and

punctuality

• are motivated to learn and get ahead in life

• have learned useful skills to apply to a job, and/or

get along well with others.

Legal Action Center | (212) 243 1313 | www.lac.org | 225 Varick Street, 4th oor, New York, NY 10014

This document is informational and does not constitute legal advice. ©Legal Action Center, 2022

EMPLOYMENT

Can you show that you have worked successfully?

If so, try to get letters from as many jobs as you can

from a supervisor or another person who worked with

you and can truthfully say:

• what the job was, how long you worked there and

what your job responsibilities were

• how well you performed your job

• whether you were promoted

• that you had an excellent attendance record and

came to work on time, and

• that you are motivated, responsible and get

along well with others.

LETTERS FROM CLERGY

If you play a leadership role in your community and

volunteer, ask your priest, minister, imam, rabbi or

spiritual leader to write a letter on your behalf

saying so.

CERTIFICATE OF RELIEF FROM

DISABILITIES OR CERTIFICATE OF

GOOD CONDUCT

For more information, read the Legal Action Center’s

booklet Lowering Barriers or watch the Certicates of

Relief and Good Conduct videos. Both are available on

our website at lac.org/resources.

LETTER FROM YOUR PAROLE OR

PROBATION OFFICER

If your parole or probation ocer can say the

following things truthfully, ask him/her to write a

letter commenting on your:

• negative drug tests (ideally for at least 12

months),

compliance with all requirements of

parole or probation, and/or

• positive outlook and exceptional motivation.

Legal Action Center | (212) 243 1313 | www.lac.org | 225 Varick Street, 4th oor, New York, NY 10014

This document is informational and does not constitute legal advice. ©Legal Action Center, 2022

LETTERS FROM YOUR

VOLUNTEER WORK

If you have volunteered for a school, nonprot

organization or other group, try to get a letter from a

responsible person saying that you:

• are responsible

• have made a good contribution to the work of

the program, and/or are dedicated to your

volunteer work.

COUNSELING OR SOCIAL

SERVICE PROGRAM

You may want to show that you completed or are

now in an addiction, mental health or other program

to address issues that led to your involvement with

the criminal legal system.* Try to get a letter saying

that you:

• had or have great attendance

• had negative drug tests (ideally for at least 6-12

months),

showed excellent motivation and desire

to change

• fully participated in programs

• got along well with others

• understood the causes of your past behavior and

were committed to positive growth

• were not a risk to the safety of others, and/or

• no longer associated with the peers/friends who

had a negative influence.

If you have a disability (for example, addiction) that

prevented you from working while you were in the

program, make sure the person writing the letter

explains this. You will need to sign a consent form.

For tips on what makes a great letter of

recommendation, read LAC’s resource

Crafting an Eective Letter of Reference

for an Individual with a Conviction Record,

available at lac.org/resources.

Another way to show rehabilitation is by

writing a personal statement. This is an

opportunity to describe in your own words

your journey since the oense, including your

accomplishments and what you are proud

of. For information on writing a successful

personal statement, read LAC’s resource

Crafting an Eective Personal Statement,

which is available at lac.org/resources. You

can also call LAC to get individual advice

from an LAC sta member.

*This is sensitive information that may not be appropriate to

share in all cases. Call the Legal Action Center to discuss this

decision with one of our sta members.