Employment

 

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), authorized by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (P. L. 104-188), is a federal tax credit that encourages employers to hire eight targeted groups of job seekers by reducing employers’ federal income tax liability by as much as $2,400 per qualified new worker; $750, if working 120 hours or $1,200, if working 400 hours or more, per qualified summer youth. Employers can learn which new hires may qualify, find brochures, download IRS and ETA forms necessary to participate and find instructions at the U.S. Department of Labor or call 1.800.669.9271.

 

National H.I.R.E. Network

Established by the Legal Action Center, the National Helping Individuals with Criminal Records Re-enter through Employment Network is both a national clearinghouse for information and an advocate for policy change. The goal of the National H.I.R.E. Network is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices and public opinion. The National H.I.R.E. Network also provides training and technical assistance to agencies working to improve the employment prospects for people with criminal records.

 

Transitional Jobs

Meaningful work sets the stage for financial independence and career growth. Many individuals with barriers to work remain unemployed despite attempts to work because they have been unable to find and keep a job on their own. The National Transitional Jobs Network programs assist these individuals in gaining permanent jobs. By working in a subsidized, transitional job for three to twelve months, they earn a paycheck, learn technical skills for higher wage jobs, become eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, and receive intensive mentoring and support. This transitional job is the first step toward permanent employment and economic opportunity.

 

Recovery Assistance

Oxford House

Oxford Houses of Washington State is a group of self-run, self-supported recovery houses that provide an opportunity for every recovering individual to learn a clean and sober way of life--forever. Oxford House, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization of the national network of individual Oxford Houses. Contributions and grants are used to expand the network of Oxford Houses by providing trained outreach workers to establish new houses and central service support to existing houses.

 

Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 33,500 weekly meetings in over 116 countries worldwide.

 

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

 

Legal Assistance and Status

Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal Histories Section

Check Crime History Records call 360.705.5100 for information about criminal record history maintained by the WSP.

 

Washington Law Help

Washington Law Help assists low-Income people in Washington find solutions to civil legal problems.

 

Washington State Courts

This site includes a statewide directory of courts, including addresses and telephone numbers, court rules, forms and information about assistance with legal research from the state law library.  The Administrative Office of the Courts may also be reached at 360.357.2129.  Please note that this office can not offer any legal advice.

Criminal Justice Records

Court Records

Law Enforcement Records

Glossary

Governing Statutes and Regulations

For More Information

Washington State Bar Association

Check the Washington Bar Association website or call 206.727.8200 for information on how to find an attorney in your area (or contact your local county bar association).

 

National Institute of Corrections

The National Institute of Corrections provides federal, state, and local corrections agencies with training, technical assistance, information services, and policy/program development assistance.

 

The Correctional Education Association

The Correctional Education Association (CEA), founded in 1945, is a non-profit, professional association serving educators and administrators who provide services to students in correctional settings. The CEA is the largest affiliate of the American Correctional Association.

 

U.S. Department of Justice

The Bureau of Justice Statistics provides key national facts and statistics.

Transition to Re-Entry

Employment and Unemployment Records Request

Completing and sending the Self-Request for Records form gets employment history and unemployment payment history from the Records Disclosure Unit of Employment Security.

 

Washington State Going Home Project

Washington State Going Home Project is a partnership between Washington State targeted communities, the Department of Corrections and Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration to transition high-risk offenders to the community successfully.

 

Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative

Nearly 650,000 people are released from incarceration yearly and arrive on the doorsteps of communities nationwide. The federal government, through the Office of Justice Programs, offers guidance and direction to communities as they prepare for ex-offenders going and staying home.

 

The Transition from Prison to Community Initiative

The Transition from Prison to Community Initiative identifies and promotes adoption of evidence-based best practices that states should implement in the following stages of the transition process:

▪ Assessing and classifying new prison inmates

▪ Developing and implementing transition plans for each inmate

▪ Releasing offenders from prison

▪ Providing community supervision and services

▪ Responding to violations of release conditions

▪ Discharging successful offenders from supervision

▪ Providing post-discharge support and aftercare

 

Re-Entry Blog

The Transition from Prison to Community Initiative provides a blog email.

 

After Prison - Roadblocks to Re-Entry

A report on State legal barriers facing people with criminal records - The Legal Action Center (LAC) has completed an exhaustive, two-year study of the legal obstacles that people with criminal records face when they attempt to reenter society and become productive, law-abiding citizens.  Our research found that people with criminal records seeking reentry face a daunting array of counterproductive, debilitating and unreasonable roadblocks in almost every important aspect of their life.

 

Research, Policy and Advocacy

Washington State Coalition for the Homeless

The Washington State Coalition for the Homeless has taken the lead since 1984 in training, education, and advocacy with and on behalf of individuals and families who are homeless in Washington State. We are a 501-c-3 organization governed by representatives elected by their county coalitions and joined in our efforts by service providers, local, state and federal government agencies, legislators, business leaders, and individuals who are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to shelter, a basic human need.

 

Citizens for Responsible Justice

Citizens for Responsible Justice is a humanitarian organization located in Washington dedicated to improving and promoting policies and change in the criminal justice system.

Western Prison Project

The Western Prison Project exists to coordinate a progressive response to the criminal justice system, and to build a grassroots, multi-racial movement that achieves criminal justice reform and reduces the over-reliance on incarceration in the western states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada.

 

Reentry Policy Council

Each year, nearly 650,000 people are released from US prisons, and over 7 million are released from jails; the vast majority will be rearrested within 3 years. In its groundbreaking report, the Re-Entry Policy Council offers hundreds of consensus-based, bipartisan recommendations for reducing public spending and increasing public safety by promoting the safe and successful return of these individuals to the community.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) is a federally funded resource offering justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide.

 

"What's In the Law" People released from prison and the agencies that try to help them experience on a daily basis the barriers people with criminal records face when trying to reintegrate into society. But until this study, no one has had the complete story. The Legal Action Center’s (LAC) study offers the most comprehensive picture to date of the legal roadblocks that confront people with criminal records in each state, and in the nation as a whole. This report is intended to be a reference for people with criminal records and their families, as well as for policy makers, elected officials and service providers.

 

Child Support and Corrections

 

Washington Division of Child Support

The Division of Child Support provides information for individuals to gain assistance to resolve child support issues.

 

Washington Department of Corrections

The Washington Department of Corrections in collaboration with its criminal justice partners, victims, citizens, and other stakeholders will enhance community safety by holding offenders accountable through the administration of criminal sanctions and effective correctional programs.