The Reentry Advocacy Project (RAP) recognizes the harm done to individuals by the U.S. criminal punishment system, the substantial obstacle that a criminal record poses when reentering society, and the disparate effects the criminal law has on marginalized groups, particularly people of color and low-income communities. We focus on the ongoing impacts former incarceration has on peoples’ lives and aim to help provide legal assistance navigating these barriers. RAP connects law students with individuals with arrest or conviction histories to provide free legal information and assistance with compassion and respect.
The RAP works with Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) to provide assistance to individuals with arrest or conviction history to navigate legal barriers to housing, benefits, employment, and other crucial necessities for reentering society after incarceration. RAP volunteers will work on a new project with BayLegal that will include client contact, legal analysis, RAP sheet reviews, and ultimately RAP volunteers will staff one clinic per semester where volunteers will meet with clients in-person to complete BayLegal’s intake process, write declarations, and file expungement petitions.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to (and be expected to) engage directly with clients throughout the entire process. We will work closely under the supervision of BayLegal’s Reentry team, receiving training and mentoring throughout the year.
We ask that volunteers be committed to the important work of helping our clients navigate barriers to reentry and to follow through with the work assigned to the best of their abilities. We are confident that with our supervising attorneys’ guidance, members will be more than capable. The bottom line is that we are engaged in important work and your help matters.
Supervision: Students will receive training and be supervised by attorneys at Bay Area Legal Aid.
Time Commitment: Students are expected to commit to a full year with an expectation of 20-25 hours a semester.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at ReentryAdvocacy@berkeley.edu.