News Archive

In his January 13, 2016 column in The Indiana Lawyer, Chief Judge Richard L. Young provides information on a variety of programs available to help inmates released from federal prison ("Federal re-entry programs continue to benefit community").  One such program is the recently established Legal Assistance Program, a collaboration between IU McKinney School of Law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Indianapolis Bar Association, designed to address the many legal hurdles former inmates may face including child support issues, suspended driver’s license or traffic citations, as well as securing housing.  By pairing an attorney and a law student with newly released, high-risk offenders, the program can “provide legal advice and assist with court proceedings relating to such issues.”  Young says “The benefits of this program are wide-reaching, as lawyers have the opportunity to mentor law students; students receive academic credit and valuable experience; high risk offenders are able to overcome challenges that may otherwise stand in their way of successfully re-entering society; and the community sees further reductions in recidivism rates.”