CORI Reform In Massachusetts
Activists rallied on Thursday in support of CORI reform. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information, and it’s a record compiled by the state of all criminal charges brought against an individual. It includes charges that were either dismissed or resulted in acquittal, it can go back several decades and it can frequently include misinformation. It’s a difficult document to read, and many of the people who are making decisions based on viewing them don’t always understand what they’re looking at. A CORI can be seen by criminal justice and government agencies statewide, but also by public housing authorities, schools and private employers. Applicants are frequently required to consent to a CORI check when applying for subsidized housing, schooling and many types of jobs.
AAC’s housing advocates frequently see how current CORI regulations affect the populations we work with. Clients who have spent several years on subsidized housing authority waiting lists learn that the housing authority has rejected their application due to CORI activity, frequently for charges from many years prior, and for charges that are non-violent or substance abuse related. Housing advocates help AAC clients navigate the complicated process of appealing CORI-related rejections, but it’s not easy, and while their appeals are being processed, many of these clients remain without housing. These types of regulations seemingly ignore the link between chronic homelessness, poverty and criminal activity. Denying low-income people subsidized housing because of previous mistakes discourages those who are trying to make positive and stabilizing changes in their lives.
Currently legislation is pending to reform the CORI process in Massachusetts. Proposed changes would continue to make information available to law enforcement, but also make it easier for people who have made a commitment to reform and rehabilitation to get access to jobs, housing and education. Now it’s critical to support a move toward a system that’s rehabilitative, not punitive, and one that helps the people we know need it the most.
For more information on CORI reform, check out Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI.
