by Lane Dennard 

Prior to retirement from King & Spalding LLP in 2003, I [Lane Dennard] represented management in the field of labor and employment law for more than 30 years. Since retirement, I have taught as an adjunct professor, and done volunteer work at the Georgia Justice Project in Atlanta, which included the representation of clients faced with the collateral consequences of arrests and convictions. This work increased my awareness that Georgia citizens with a criminal record face an array of difficulties when they try to get a job or housing and when they apply for state and federal benefits. Our state has one of the highest crime rates in the nation. A 2009 study reports that in Georgia, one out of 13 people are under some form of correctional control (prison, jail or probation). This is the worst rate in the country.

GJP’s Coming Home Initiative inspires ‘critical’ study

MACON, Ga. – Existing state law and policy in Georgia creates crippling barriers for ex-offenders who try to get their lives back on track, increasing the rate of recidivism and producing unreasonable social and economic strains on Georgia taxpayers, according to a new book published by Mercer Law School examining the issue.

The book, Collateral Consequences of Arrests and Convictions: Policy and Law in Georgia, is the first comprehensive study of its kind to examine the impact of state law and policy on ex-offenders reentering society after serving time. Among the central findings of the study is that the dissemination of arrest and conviction records creates unreasonable consequences for ex-offenders seeking employment, housing, public assistance and the right to vote. The result, the study suggests, is a state system that produces unavoidable roadblocks for ex-offenders, making recidivism more likely. Collateral Consequences provides nonprofit agencies, volunteer lawyers and others the legal background and authorities for the representation of clients who have these problems. 

“We need to remember that the people who the Georgia Justice Project supports are human beings and it is our job to grant them grace.  We should reject hate—we should always reject hate at every juncture.” Leah Ward Sears, former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice

GJP thanks its honorees Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, Horace Sibley, and Mark and Katie Bashor as well as everyone who joined us for this wonderful evening.

Doug Ammar, GJP's Executive Director, is featured in the film essay below.  Please click on the link below to watch Red State, Blue State: Lawyers, Politics & Moral Counseling.

http://law.fordham.edu/louis-stein-center-for-law-and-ethics/10469.htm

For 23 years, Georgia Justice Project has been working to Break the Cycle of poverty and crime. Now with our new membership support program, we’ve made it easier for you to help us Break the Cycle. 

Click here to find out more about membership benefits.  Join Today!

Lost Lessons from Groundhog Day, approved by the Georgia Bar for one of professionalism credit

For more information, or to schedule a CLE at your firm, please contact Shannon DeMyers at shannon@gjp.org or 404.827.0027 x 215.