The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) has published a report which promises to revolutionize the college admissions process, with respect to criminal histories. The report reviews findings from a survey conducted in collaboration with AACRAO of 273 institutions nationwide. The findings reveal a lot about policies that are (or aren’t) in place all over the country. Raleigh Attorney David Coolidge explains.

1. CENTER
FOR
COMMUNITY
ALTERNATIVES
RECONSIDERS
USEFULNESS
OF
CRIMINAL
HISTORY
RECORDS
IN
COLLEGE
ADMISSIONS
By
David
Coolidge
December
27,
2013
The
Center
for
Community
Alternatives
(CCA)
has
published
a
report
which
promises
to
revolutionize
the
college
admissions
process,
with
respect
to
criminal
histories.
The
report
reviews
findings
from
a
survey
conducted
in
collaboration
with
AACRAO
of
273
institutions
nationwide.
The
findings
reveal
a
lot
about
policies
that
are
(or
aren’t)
in
place
all
over
the
country.
Here
are
some
highlights:
o 66%
of
colleges
collect
criminal
justice
information.
The
policy
is
more
common
among
private
and
four-­‐year
schools.
o 38%
of
colleges
do
not
collect
or
use
such
information.
These
schools
have
not
found
their
campuses
to
be
any
less
safe.
o The
most
common
way
colleges
collect
information
is
through
self-­‐
disclosure.
Very
few
schools
conduct
background
checks.
o Less
than
50%
of
schools
that
collect
and
use
criminal
records
have
policies
in
the
book,
and
just
40%
train
their
staff
on
how
to
interpret
this
information.
o Convictions
commonly
viewed
as
negative
include
drug
and
alcohol
related
incidents,
misdemeanors,
and
youthful
offender
adjudications.
o Just
over
50%
of
schools
that
collect
criminal
records
provide
support
or
supervision
to
those
students
who
are
accepted.
Emphasis
is
usually
placed
on
supervision.
CCA
was
also
able
to
refute
a
few
myths
associated
with
students
with
criminal
convictions.
For
example:
o No
link
could
be
found
between
having
prior
criminal
convictions
and
posing
a
risk
to
campus
safety.
o Having
a
criminal
record
isn’t
even
unusual
in
this
country
today.
The
US
has
the
highest
incarceration
rate
in
the
world,
mostly
due
to
over-­‐
criminalization.
o The
criminal
justice
system
isn’t
exactly
fair
and
balanced.
In
every
type
of
crime,
in
every
system
across
the
country,
racial
processing
disparities
have
been
documented
extensively.
Thus
using
these
records
in
admissions
policies
can
never
be
called
race-­‐neutral.
o Additionally,
criminal
records
are
often
inaccurate
or
misleading
for
a
number
of
other
reasons.

2. o
Accepting
applicants
with
criminal
records
doesn’t
threaten
public
safety–it
actually
promotes
it.
Through
higher
education,
students
with
past
convictions
can
expand
their
horizons,
sharpen
their
critical
thinking,
and
prepare
themselves
for
stable
employment.
And
the
truth
is
employment
and
education
drastically
reduces
recidivism,
and
less
crime
means
a
safer
country.
CCA’s
report
ends
with
a
list
of
recommendations
for
colleges
and
universities
,
including:
o Stop
collecting
and
using
criminal
records
in
admissions
processes.
o If
you
keep
collecting
and
using
criminal
justice
information,
drop
the
disclosure
requirement,
save
it
until
after
conditional
admission,
or
limit
it
to
certain
types
or
timelines
of
convictions.
o Base
all
admissions
decisions
on
criteria
that
are
in
writing,
transparent,
fair
and
unbiased,
and
based
on
evidence
and
real
information.
o Avoid
categorical
denials
for
any
crimes.
Work
in
a
case-­‐by-­‐case
basis.
Is
the
individual
under
community
supervision?
Have
they
been
given
the
chance
to
grow
and
be
rehabilitated?
o When
withdrawing
an
admission
over,
inform
applicants
the
reason
for
their
rejection,
and
allow
them
the
right
to
appealing
their
case.
o Offer
support
services
on
campus
for
students
with
criminal
backgrounds.
Hopefully,
this
report
will
shed
some
much
needed
light
on
an
aspect
of
our
education
system
that
drastically
needs
to
be
reformed.
As
a
criminal
defense
attorney
who
specializes
in
students
with
convictions,
I
do
everything
I
can
to
help
the
young
people
of
Raleigh,
North
Carolina
to
avoid
life-­‐shatteringing
repercussions
for
incorrect
charges
or
foolish
mistakes.
But
it’s
good
to
see
that
people
all
over
the
country
are
interested
in
empowering
all
students,
regardless
of
their
background,
to
lead
fulfilling
lives
and
contribute
to
the
betterment
of
our
nation.
Attorney
David
Coolidge
graduated
at
the
top
of
his
class
from
Duke
University
School
of
Law.
He
has
extensive
misdemeanor
and
felony
criminal
practice,
and
has
also
represented
thousands
of
clients
facing
speeding
tickets
and
other
moving
violations
with
The
Coolidge
Law
Firm.
David
Coolidge
is
also
an
active
member
of
a
number
of
the
state’s
legal
organizations,
including
the
North
Carolina
Bar
Association,
Wake
County
Bar
Association,
Wake
County
Academy
of
Criminal
Trial
Lawyers,
and
North
Carolina
Advocates
for
Justice.