Spending time behind bars can drive a wedge between family members, so transitioning back to a cohesive family unit can be difficult post-incarceration.
The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law is hoping to ease that transition with its “New Beginnings Holiday Party” for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
The party is Nov. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Life Community Church, 4602 N. College Ave.
Nicole Burts, social chair of BLSA, said the goal of the party is to “to re-foster the family network that was destroyed during the time they were incarcerated.” Burts said the party will feature appetizers and desserts, arts and crafts, games and a family photo booth.
BLSA also led a weeks-long toy drive to collect gifts for the party.
“The goal is for every child to leave the party with a gift and a good memory,” Burts said.
The party is just one part of BLSA’s overall focus on re-entry.
Lahny Silva, associate professor of law and BLSA faculty advisor, said mass incarceration has a “major impact” on the Black community.
“We feel the impact more than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States,” Silva said. “Mass incarceration’s shadow story is felon disenfranchisement and disenfranchisement in the sense of (being) barred from almost every area of life — civic participation, employment and housing.”
Silva said people with criminal histories face more than 35,000 “collateral consequences” as a result of their criminal records. The scope of the problem is one reason BLSA chose re-entry as a focus area.
“BLSA not only wanted to bring attention to the problem, they also wanted to help,” Silva said.
Beyond the holiday party, BLSA has a couple re-entry initiatives planned for the spring. For one, Burts said the group is in the early stages of planning a job fair for formerly incarcerated people. The group is currently tracking down employers that are willing to hire individuals with criminal records, while looking for a venue to host the event.
Silva said BLSA will also be assisting with Expungement Day, helping people with criminal histories fill out petitions for expungement.
“In the past five years, the Indiana legislature enacted a number of statutes that allow people with particular criminal charges and convictions to petition the court of conviction for an expungement of their criminal record. This includes low-level felonies and arrests,” Silva said.
For more information or to contact BLSA, visit blsaiuls.usg.iupui.edu.
