News & Announcements
Christmas Party 2009 Photo Gallery
Click Here to see more photos from the 2009 Christmas Party!
Article from Atlanta Business Chronicle: Policy on offenders a cause for concern
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.
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.
New Book Urges Changes in Georgia Laws, Policies Affecting Ex-Offenders
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.
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.
Thank you for making the 2009 Grass Roots Justice Awards such a great success!
“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.
“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.
Fordham University Film Essay
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
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
An Evening for JUSTICE
Click Here to view a gallery of pictures from the event.
Thank you for all of your support and making this Evening for Justice a success!
On Sunday, June 28th, the staff and friends of GJP from Atlanta's community gathered at the local Cafe Circa for an evening of innovative cuisine, inspiring conversation, and fantastic entertainment -- all to support the work of Georgia Justice Project.
Click Here to view a gallery of pictures from the event.
Thank you for all of your support and making this Evening for Justice a success!
On Sunday, June 28th, the staff and friends of GJP from Atlanta's community gathered at the local Cafe Circa for an evening of innovative cuisine, inspiring conversation, and fantastic entertainment -- all to support the work of Georgia Justice Project.
Break The Cycle
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!
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!
Can you help make Christmas a little brighter for Georgia Justice Project clients and their families?
This year GJP will host our 17th Annual Holiday Event for more than 300 GJP clients and their families. On December 5th, together with GJP staff and volunteers, our client guests gather to share a sit-down dinner, a special program, a visit from Santa Claus, gifts for all client children, and gift cards for client families. Won’t you help make this season bright by supporting this wonderful tradition?
You can help by donating gifts, making a financial contribution, become an event sponsor, or volunteering.
Vulnerable GJP clients look ahead to the holidays with anxiety about the financial distress that holidays bring them. By supporting the annual Holiday Celebration - volunteering your talents and time, making a special holiday contribution, or providing gifts for children in need - you can create some special holiday magic!
This year GJP will host our 17th Annual Holiday Event for more than 300 GJP clients and their families. On December 5th, together with GJP staff and volunteers, our client guests gather to share a sit-down dinner, a special program, a visit from Santa Claus, gifts for all client children, and gift cards for client families. Won’t you help make this season bright by supporting this wonderful tradition?
You can help by donating gifts, making a financial contribution, become an event sponsor, or volunteering.
Vulnerable GJP clients look ahead to the holidays with anxiety about the financial distress that holidays bring them. By supporting the annual Holiday Celebration - volunteering your talents and time, making a special holiday contribution, or providing gifts for children in need - you can create some special holiday magic!
Women's Career Development Seminar
Thank you for making the seminar a SUCCESS!
Over the years, we have found out that our female clients face unique challenges in finding and keeping a job. Without access to a livable wage, women, who are often the sole breadwinners for their families, struggle to provide for their children and themselves.This reason propelled GJP to offer a brand new seminar to support and guide our female clients.
Thank you for making the seminar a SUCCESS!
Over the years, we have found out that our female clients face unique challenges in finding and keeping a job. Without access to a livable wage, women, who are often the sole breadwinners for their families, struggle to provide for their children and themselves.This reason propelled GJP to offer a brand new seminar to support and guide our female clients.
Inaugural GRASS ROOTS JUSTICE AWARDS
THE START OF SOMETHING BIG!
On Wednesday, October 15, more than 200 people from around Atlanta’s community joined in the 2008 GRASS ROOTS JUSTICE AWARDS celebration on the lawn of Oglethorpe University. The three unique awards, created by local iron sculptor Andrew Crawford, were bestowed upon a community advocate legendary for her contributions serving at-risk women and children, a university president for the innovative development of a student program, and a local man and his family who became a teenage boy’s hero.
THE START OF SOMETHING BIG!
On Wednesday, October 15, more than 200 people from around Atlanta’s community joined in the 2008 GRASS ROOTS JUSTICE AWARDS celebration on the lawn of Oglethorpe University. The three unique awards, created by local iron sculptor Andrew Crawford, were bestowed upon a community advocate legendary for her contributions serving at-risk women and children, a university president for the innovative development of a student program, and a local man and his family who became a teenage boy’s hero.