Tag: Legal Action Center

Legal Services Offered by the Legal Action Center

Legal Action Center pic
Legal Action Center
Image: lac.org

Since 1997, Sharyn O’Halloran has held several professorial positions with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She now serves as the senior vice dean for the university’s School of Professional Studies. Sharyn O’Halloran has been published in a number of academic journals, including the American Journal of Political Science and the Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization. She is an active volunteer with the Legal Action Center based in New York City.

Since 1973, the Legal Action Center (LAC) has provided legal advocacy and representation for people facing discrimination due to their HIV/AIDS status, criminal record, or addiction. In addition to creating education programs for policymakers and developing research projects that analyze the impact of public policies, the LAC offers direct services to its clients.

The LAC provides representation and legal counsel free of charge to New Yorkers who are illegally barred from accessing housing and employment or denied other rights. Some of its services include filing complaints of discrimination with the appropriate agency and appealing denials for occupational licenses or public housing due to the applicant’s criminal history.

Legal Action Center Pushes for Better ATI and Reentry Programming

Arthur Liman Policy Institute pic
Legal Action Center
Image: lac.org

Since 1993, Sharyn O’Halloran has taught at Columbia University as the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics. When not working, Sharyn O’Halloran supports several local organizations, such as the Legal Action Center (LAC). This nonprofit advocates on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS, criminal records, and struggles with addiction.

Recently, the LAC filed a position paper pushing for better alternative-to-incarceration (ATI) and reentry programs. New York State has become nationally renowned for its programs, which have helped saved millions of dollars while also reducing prison populations and curbing crime rates. Historically, these programs have received strong bipartisan support.

The LAC paper calls for the restoration of more than $2 million in funding cuts from these programs in the Executive Budget and actually seeks additional money to strengthen the effort. This funding could help provide critical addiction and mental illness treatment, offer skills training to improve individuals’ ability to find and retain employment, and create new avenues for reconnecting with families and for finding permanent housing after involvement with the criminal justice system.