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CJUS 230 One Page#2 - CJUS 230 with Professor
Presley One Page Assignment.
Criminal Justice Research and Writing (Liberty University)
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Running head: BEYOND THE SENTENCE
Beyond the Sentence—Understanding Collateral
Consequences Liberty University
Abstract
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BEYOND THE SENTENCE 2
Criminal conviction brings with it a host of sanctions and disqualifications that can place an
unanticipated burden on individuals trying to re-enter society and lead lives as productive
citizens. The impact of these “collateral consequences” is often discussed in the context of
offender re-entry, but they attach not only to felonies and incarcerated individuals but also to
misdemeanors and individuals who have never been incarcerated. Collateral consequences tend
to last indefinitely, long after an individual is fully rehabilitated. The Court Security
Improvement Act of 2007 directed NIJ to carry out a national survey of collateral
consequences. Through a competitive process, NIJ awarded a grant to the American Bar
Association (ABA) to undertake the comprehensive, systematic collection of the collateral
consequences of conviction for both state and federal offenses in each of the 50 states, the U.S.
territories and the District of Columbia.
Keywords: re-entry, employment, convictions
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Beyond the Sentence—Understanding Collateral Consequences
This article discusses the National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of
Conviction, its creation, and its uses in the justice system. While the immediate punishments
(fines, jail time) are often discussed, “until recently, judges, prosecutors or defense counsel
seldom discussed or considered collateral consequences” (Berson, 2013, p. 26). This is
concerning because the collateral consequences of a punishment can last for an offender’s
lifespan. The database hopes to inform judges, defense counsel and prosecutors, legislators, and
policy makers in their decisions regarding the punishment of offenders. Currently the database
contains information from the federal government and 17 states, and it is continuing to expand
(Berson, 2013). Hopefully the database will help educate law makers and enforcers to consider
all the consequences of their intended punishment.
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BEYOND THE SENTENCE 4
References
Berson, S. B. (2013). Beyond the sentence—Understanding collateral consequences. Retrieved
from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.
website: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/241927.pdf
