Forum: Personal Narratives of Collateral Consequences

Collateral consequences impair opportunities for employment, housing, public benefits, educational loans, and family connections. Although studies show that there are over 45,000 state and federal collateral consequences of conviction, judges in the United States are not required to warn convicted individuals of all of these consequences. These collateral consequences make re-entry, transition, and success difficult, if not, impossible. They also disproportionately affect women and children, especially those of color.