Collateral Consequences
Definition
Legal and social penalties that continue after people serve criminal sentences, including barriers to employment, housing, education, voting, professional licenses, and public benefits. These collateral consequences often last years or lifetime, creating permanent punishment beyond the court sentence. Collateral consequences drive recidivism by making legitimate employment and housing nearly impossible, forcing people back to crime for survival.
Louisville Context
Kentucky imposes approximately 900 different collateral consequences for various criminal convictions, affecting employment in dozens of occupations (healthcare, education, trades), public housing eligibility, student financial aid, voting rights, and more. These barriers are especially severe for people with felony convictions. Approximately one-third of Jefferson County’s working-age population has criminal records facing these barriers—a massive pool of residents excluded from opportunity.
Why It Matters
When someone serves their sentence but remains unemployable and ineligible for housing for years or decades, that’s setting people up to fail and return to crime. Collateral consequences perpetuate poverty, increase recidivism, and waste human potential. Society benefits when people with criminal records can work, support families, and contribute to communities—but collateral consequences make that nearly impossible.
Dave’s Proposal
Dave will ban the box on Metro job applications and public housing (considering criminal history only after interview). He’ll advocate for Kentucky to reduce collateral consequences and expand expungement. Community Wellness Centers will provide job training, placement assistance, and entrepreneurship support for people with criminal records. He’ll partner with employers committed to fair chance hiring.