State law offers people convicted of crimes a way to demonstrate to employers, landlords, licensing agencies and others that they have paid their debt to society. But the difficulty in obtaining Certificates of Relief means that instead of a re-entry tool, they are just another obstacle for former inmates.
Losing a place in public housing. Being barred from a job. Suffering immigration action. New York has a menu of “collateral consequences” attached to criminal convictions. Is there a consensus to change them?
A certificate of relief can help you get a job or an apartment to speed your re-entry to society after a spell in prison. The only trick is, you might need a job and an apartment to qualify for one.