Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma

PROJECT PURPOSE

Legal aid supports State efforts to help Oklahomans keep working. Too many Oklahomans still face challenges in securing and maintaining employment. Others reentering the workforce after a period of incarceration face significant barriers to employment. The challenges and barriers are more often than not civil legal issues. Issues include: securing unpaid wages and benefits, expunging criminal records, reinstating drivers and occupational licenses, hourly wage employees misclassified as independent contractors, correcting inaccurate criminal records, untangling fees, fines and warrants, Modify child support orders, secure health insurance, and stabilize lives by preventing illegal evictions or foreclosures, resolving credit report problems, securing domestic violence protection orders all to improve steady employment outcomes. Full time legal aid attorneys will be embedded at Oklahoma Workforce innovation offices in Tulsa, OKC and Lawton. Legal Aid attorney will train Workforce staff on legal issues and provide legal issue screening forms. Legal aid will be available for consultations with Workforce client's at walk in or by appointment. In the event that Workforce determines that an individual is unable to work, Legal Aid will pursue SSA benefits. Focus will be on persons with criminal justice involvement but not exclusive.

EVIDENCE

The University of California study: "Got Clean Slate" provides evidence that legal interventions such as expungement, correcting criminal records and even reducing a felony to a misdemeanor stems the decline in earnings and may even boost earnings thus making a meaningful difference. Dr. Marsha Weissman, Executive Director, Center for Community Alternatives a New York DOL grantee states "Of the more than 500 adults' with criminal records served by our 2013 Parent Success Initiative nearly 80% required legal assistance. "Criminal Justice-Reform is missing one critical piece (Failing to invest in civil legal aid) at www.thenation.com/article/criminal-jsutice-reform-legislations-is -missing-one-critical-piece and The Council of Satate Governments Justice Center. And "Opinion: Criminal Justice Reform must include Civil Legal Assistance." CSGjusticecenter.org.jr/massachusetts/media-clips/opinion-criminal-justice-reform- must-include-civil-legal-assistance

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Communities will include Oklahoma men and women displaced by the pandemic who are seeking re-employment or new employment. A majority of this community receiving benefit will be persons with a criminal justice background either recently released or still having criminal justice related difficulties with civil legal issues that impact maintaining employment.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The ultimate goal is steady employment. The supporting goals will include: housing stability, Family stability, wages paid, employee status corrected, Licenses to drive and for occupation obtained, fees, fines and warrants removed, child support modified or obtained, credit improved, criminal record corrections and expungements. Legal Aid attorneys will enter all activities in to Legal Aid case management to create a database of activities and outcomes. It will not be unusual for one client to have multiple needs any one of which can sabotage best efforts to maintain employment.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma