Legal Aid Society Launches Reentry Services Unit to Support Formerly Incarcerated New Yorkers
The Legal Aid Society has established a new Reentry Services Unit to address the meaningful challenges faced by individuals returning to New York communities after incarceration. Currently, New York State provides limited support for those reentering society, often leaving them to navigate a complex system alone. Returning citizens frequently encounter employment discrimination, housing instability, and difficulties accessing healthcare, alongside the emotional strain of reconnecting with family and community.
The new unit aims to fill this critical gap by providing comprehensive support to clients, securing access to essential long-term resources. These include physical and mental health care, substance use treatment, life skills training, and workforce readiness programs. Staff will also assist clients in overcoming bureaucratic obstacles to obtain necessary state identification, government benefits, and financial management tools. Ultimately, the goal is to empower individuals to rebuild family connections, foster social networks, and fully reintegrate into their communities.
“Reentering the community after being incarcerated for years or decades can be an extremely overwhelming, confusing and isolating experience,” explained Alexandra Shookhoff, director of Post-conviction Legal Operations at The Legal Aid Society. “The goal of the Reentry Services Unit is to replace that confusion and isolation – caused largely by the state’s failure to provide care and support for the people it releases from prison – with a personalized, practical roadmap to success.”
The unit is led by a team with direct experience navigating the challenges of post-incarceration life.
Seán Dalpiaz, the project manager, spent seven years incarcerated before his release in 2010. He experienced firsthand the lack of state support, initially struggling to find stable housing and spending his first two nights in halfway houses. He later built a successful career, holding positions at SCO Family of Services and as vice president of Real Estate & Facility Governance at Covenant House NY. Most recently, he led the Osborne Association’s Fulton community Reentry Centre in the Bronx before joining Legal Aid.
NahShon Jackson, a paralegal client advocate, was released in 2017 after serving nearly 30 years in prison. He faced significant hurdles, including adapting to new technology and securing housing, identification, and employment. Despite facing employment barriers due to his conviction record, he advanced at Network Support Services, founding and directing its Office of Community Outreach before joining the reentry services Unit.
Andrea Padilla-Gonzalez, also a paralegal client advocate, brings a unique outlook informed by her upbringing in South Central Los Angeles as the daughter of undocumented parents. Witnessing the impact of criminalization in her community inspired her advocacy work.After graduating from Columbia university, she focused on reentry programs and culturally responsive mental health services for justice-impacted individuals. Prior to joining Legal Aid, she worked with the New York Immigration Law & Justice Network, assisting immigrants and asylum seekers with legal documentation and court filings.
