Should it be this hard to get a second chance in Georgia? Georgia law and policy pose some of the toughest barriers in the nation to people trying to get their lives back on track after they have satisfied criminal charges or convictions.

With limited access to housing, employment, public assistance and civic participation, the odds of recidivism, poverty and homelessness are high. Oftentimes taxpayers are left footing the bill for these avoidable social and economic strains.

These are among the findings of a new Mercer Law School publication, Collateral Consequences of Arrests and Convictions: Policy and Law in Georgia. The publication is made possible by a grant from the Georgia Bar Association and the gift of time and talent by the authors.

We will learn more and explore potential strategies Georgia lawmakers could pursue to break down these barriers.

Panelists:

H. Lane Dennard, Jr., co-author and retired litigation partner at King & Spalding

Patrick C. DiCarlo, co-author and partner at Alston & Bird

Douglas Ammar, executive director Of the Georgia Justice Project

Marissa McCall Dodson, staff attorney and principal of the Georgia Justice Project's Coming Home program

Moderator: Milton J. Little, Jr., president, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
4 - 6 p.m.
Reception immediately following

The event is free of charge and open to lawmakers, state, federal and local government officials, judges, attorneys, employers, low income housing providers, clergy, people working with ex-offenders, the homeless or vulnerable families and others who care.

RSVP to publicpolicy@unitedwayatlanta.org

Copies of the book will be available upon donation to benefit the Georgia Justice Project.

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About United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
For more than a century, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta has continued to mobilize people in our community to help tackle the issues that are too big for anyone to solve alone. What makes United Way unique is how it helps our community work together to make lasting impact on tough community problems that take all of us to solve. United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta invests in the areas of education, income, health and ending chronic homelessness. To find or give help, dial 2-1-1 or visit us online at unitedwayatlanta.org.