Persons with Prior Felonies in Experiential Courses

Beginning January 2018, SUNY changed its policy on the admission of persons with prior felony convictions.  The new policy, effective July 1, 2017, states that all applications for SUNY institutions for first time applicants will no longer include a question regarding criminal history.

State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits Monroe Community College admission applications from inquiring into applicant's prior criminal history.  After acceptance, the College shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony if such individual seeks campus housing or participation in clinical or field experiences, internships or study abroad programs.  The information required to be disclosed under SUNY policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the dean or chairperson of their academic department.

With respect to the information listed above, students are also required to share arrests and convictions with the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office if they occur while enrolled.

On November 15, 2024, SUNY provided updated guidance on the Policy on the Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions. The guidance updated two important aspects of the 2018 policy:

1. "Where a student is applying to participate in a clinical or field experience, or internship placement, that requires a criminal history check as a condition of participation, campuses may only inquire if the student has a prior felony conviction at the point in time permitted by law, typically after an initial placement interview or after a conditional offer of placement" (Office of General Council, November 15, 2024).
2. "To facilitate its review, the campus committee shall ask the student to provide:
1. A copy of the student's criminal history record (excluding sealed conviction records) from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (or equivalent document for jurisdications outside of NYS);
2. For students on parole or probation status, references from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Division of Parole or the or the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives; and
3. A personal interview with the campus committee if deemed necessary to clarify/verify this information" (Office of General Council, November 15, 2024).

Students will now be required to submit documentation of a prior felony in an experiential course at the time of placement into an experiential activity. Please note that students are highly encouraged to submit their DCJS record review ahead of this requirement to avoid any delays.

For NYS convictions only (all other states must be handled through the process outlined by that state):

1. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken.

• Visit the Identogo website or call 877-472-6915 to do this.
• You must provide the following service code: 15464Z (for a suppressed record)

2. Bring the following to your fingerprinting appointment:

• One form of identification (visit the Identogo website or call 877-472-6915 for information about acceptable forms of identification)
• Payment in the amount of $14.25. Credit cards, checks, and money orders are accepted. Checks or money orders must be made out to "Idemia."

3. After DCJS recieves your request:

• Your request will be processed and returned via US Mail within 3 to 4 weeks. You cannot pick up your response in person.
• Your response may include one or more of the following: your criminal history record, information about fingerprints you submitted as required by law for employment, licensing or other purposes, or a "no record" response.
• You will also receive information explaining how to challenge the accuracy of any reported information.

4. After you receive your rap sheet in the mail, please bring to one of the following locations. At that location, your information will be scanned into our system and the original documents returned to you, or you can email in scanned versions of your documents:

• Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
  Brighton Campus, Building 1, Room 300
  Student Rights (studentrights@monroecc.edu)
• Student Engagement Center
  Downtown Campus, Room 310

Requesting an Application to Waive the Fingerprint Processing Fee

If you are unable to pay the $14.25 fingerprint processing fee, you must request a criminal history record fee waiver application packet by emailing Record Review (recordreview@dcjs.ny.gov).

Questions

If you have any questions about obtaining a record review or would like an update on the status of your record review, you can the Record Review Unit at Record Review (recordreview@dcjs.ny.gov) or call (518) 457-9847 or (518) 485-7675.

• If you are on probation or parole, in addition to your record review, you must submit supporting documentation from your probation/parole officer, along with their contact information.
• Anyone is welcome to send personal references, including letters from counselors, parole/probation officers, current/past employers and/or religious advisors.
• If your conviction was outside of NYS, you must submit equivalent paperwork form the state in which the conviction occurred.  Starting with the state's Department of Justice website, you should be able to find information about how you can obtain this record.

Email the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities or call (585) 292-2023 with any questions about this process.