Community Service Society

The Community Service Society provides legal services for individuals with criminal conviction histories who are experiencing civil consequences as a result of those convictions. We are currently listed on the LawHelpNY.org website under several categories pertaining to Consequences of Criminal Charges.

We provide representation to people who were fired or not hired, by both private and public employers, because of a criminal record. In addition to employment discrimination, we also litigate against background check companies.

We also help people request, read, and repair their criminal records from New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Finally, we help people get Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. Both of these certificates require employers to assume a person with a conviction history has been "rehabilitated," and they are necessary to apply for many jobs licensed by the state.

How to Get Help

At this time we are offering remote services, answering our hotlines for reentry (run in partnership with Youth Represent), health-related and student loan-related services in real time.

Our Next Door Project hotline takes messages concerning rap sheet issues, including requests to order rap sheets,that we monitor and return daily. We are now providing limited in-person rap sheet services at our midtown office; our services at partner agencies are paused during the pandemic.

Hotline information

• Reentry Legal Hotline (646) 759-8088
• Health-related: (888) 614-5400
• Student-loan related: (888) 614-5400
• Next Door Project: (212) 614-5441