Step 7: Collect identification documents and other records required for attending school

Getting identification documents (ID), transcripts, and other important records allows you to enroll in school and apply for jobs. Here are some key items to assemble as you start to plan to go back to school:

    Birth Certificate (certified, authorized copy). A birth certificate is often the first step to obtaining a number of important forms of ID. The fees for birth certificates are different in every county and state. See PG. 31. 
    Social Security Number/Card. Your Social Security Number is the second critical form of ID to obtain, as it is required for many elements of schooling, financial aid, employment, and other social services. See PG. 38.
    California State ID or Driver’s License. Your state ID card or driver’s license is an important document because it is an official government-issued photo ID that proves your age and identity, and may prove your legal presence in the U.S. You usually need one of these to apply for jobs (and also to open a bank account and vote). See PG. 43.
    Transcripts. If you completed any college courses inside prison or jail, submit a request for that college to send your transcript to the school you would like to attend. Providing transcripts can help to ensure that you don’t lose any college credits you already earned! Keep in mind, different schools have different rules about the schools and programs from which they accept transfer credits. If you have not taken college-level courses yet, you will still need transcripts from high school (if you completed your high school diploma) or your high school equivalency certificate (like the GED, HiSET, or TASC in California) to apply to and enter a college in California. 
    Immunization/Vaccination Records. You will need your immunization/ vaccination records to register for school (and some jobs). These records prove that you received certain vaccines and medicines as a child for diseases like polio, chicken pox, tuberculosis, and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). See PG. 840
    References and Letters of Recommendation. Many school programs, colleges, and employers request references with an application. References should be employers, supervisors, teachers, or mentors who can describe your relevant attributes and characteristics in a positive manner. References should be people you know well, but should NOT be family members.
    Selective Service Registration (MALES ONLY). If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25 and live in the U.S., you are required to register for the Selective Service before your 26th birthday. This program provides the Federal Government with a list of men to enlist for military service in the case of a national emergency. See PG. 73 for more information.
    Criminal Record Information. This is one final suggestion for preparing to go back to school... getting a copy of your criminal record and cleaning it up where possible. This can be an important first step to reduce the effect of your conviction history on your education and career goals. But you don’t have to actually do this before you go back to school— you can do it any time! That said, we recommend looking into record-cleaning while you are in school and well before you apply for jobs, if possible! See the UNDERSTANDING AND CLEANING UP YOUR CRIMINAL RECORDS CHAPTER, starting on PG. 931, for more information.

Helpful ResourcesWhen you are exploring your job or career options, consider these resources.

    Your correctional facility’s library or your local public library—Look for career planning guides and vocational handbooks. California Career Planning Guide—A career guide published by the California Career Resource Network (CalCRN). You can request the guide in writing from: CalCRN—Order Processing, 1430 N. Street, Suite 4503, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by calling (916) 323-6544. If you have Internet access, the guide is available to read or download for free online at: http://www.californiacareers.info/ccPG.aspx. America’s Job Centers of California offer “interest inventory” tools that can help you explore what kinds of jobs might be right for you.CareerOneStop website (http://www.careerinfonet.org/)—Under the “Explore Careers” feature, you can take a self-assessment to learn more about your interests and jobs that might be a good fit. You also can browse jobs in different fields and find out what jobs are more available right now. California Career Resource Network website (http://www.californiacareers.info/index.aspx)—Provides links to several California-focused career-planning resources.

Helpful HintSNarrow your Career Interests

Once you have a list of potential jobs and careers that you are interested in, you will need to start narrowing it down. You should start by considering your lifestyle and identifying any factors or circumstances that might conflict with a job you are interested in. For example, criminal convictions, family responsibilities, and travel or mobility restrictions can affect whether a particular job or career is a good fit for you.

Research the Job Market

Know what the job market is like in your desired field, in the region where you live, and for workers with different skill levels and education levels.

Questions to ask:

    How hard is it to get a job in the field with or without an educational degree? What do employers look for when hiring? Are there many job openings in the field, or is it very difficult to get hired?[2710] Is the field growing and expanding?

Resources to use:

    Talk to people in your field of interest, and browse job-search and career guides such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook.[2711] Look online: The California Employment & Development Department (EDD) offers an interactive online job guide, which provides information on hundreds of jobs, available at http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/. You can also use the tools on the CareerOneStop website (see PG. 842 above), and contact professional associations in your fields of interest.[2712]

  1. 2710

    See Fed. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Certificates: A Fast Track to Career, Occupational Outlook Quarterly (Winter 2012-13), at 16-17. ↑

  2. 2711

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Career Guide to Industries every two years. These resources offer information about the nature of work, working conditions, training and education, earnings, and job outlook for hundreds of different occupations. ↑

  3. 2712

    Fed. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Certificates: A Fast Track to Career, Occupational Outlook Quarterly (Winter 2012-13), at. 16-17. ↑