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CJEI

The Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI) provides criminal records and employment law training to job seekers who have been involved in the criminal legal system, assists employers in rethinking their approach to hiring, engages in research to study reentry practices, and influences policy makers and legislators on criminal justice reform.

Training

See all of our training options

Employers

We assist employers in rethinking their approach to hiring.

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Learn more about employer training

People with Criminal Records

We help job seekers overcome employment barriers.

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Learn more about training

Community Partners

We bring legal education to the reentry field.

Learn more about our legal education

Our Training Our Impact

Case Study: We educate job seekers with criminal records about their legal rights to help them integrate into the workforce. This is a brief overview of our employer training.
ILR teaches employment rights at correctional facility
Our Training Our Impact

Employer Training: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

CJEI trained HR leaders at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on criminal-records and employment laws to help them hire skilled workers with criminal records for “landside” roles at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports.
Photo of airliner in the sky by Gary Lopater on Unsplash
Employer Training: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Case Study: Queensboro Job Fair

This is the story of how CJEI partnered with Queensboro Correctional Facility, the NYSDOL, and other reentry partners to hold the Queensboro Job Fair. The aim was to to connect employers with a talented group of job seekers that were involved with the criminal justice system.
Job Fair Participants
Case Study: Queensboro Job Fair

Resources

Guides, Hiring Strategies & Best Practices

Improve employment opportunities for people with criminal records by using our guides on employment laws, understanding the benefits of hiring from this talent pool, and learning best practices.

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Access CJEI resources here

Research

See more research

Work With Us

Researchers can collaborate with us on their data sets and contact us to discuss longitudinal studies.

Contact us at cjei@cornell.edu

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CCRPS Presents at U.S. DOL Virtual Convening

The CCRPS team presented their findings of the research project, “Criminal Record Inaccuracies and the Impact of a Record Education Intervention on Employment-Related Outcomes” at a virtual convening with the Department of Labor.
Virtual meeting
CCRPS Presents at U.S. DOL Virtual Convening

Analyzing Reentry Training

Millions of Americans have criminal records, which can limit the ability to get a job, driver’s license, and occupational license, as well as limit the access to housing, social services, and even voting in some places.
Photo: Students at an IDEO work session
Analyzing Reentry Training

Three Research Findings

CCRPS' initial analysis revealed: greater risk of criminal record inaccuracy for black and brown people; criminal record training may lead to job seeking and record correction; and criminal records still pose substantial barriers for employment.
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Three Research Findings

In the News

See all news mentions

CJEI Joins with NYC Bar Association on Webinar

Webinar covers strategies for formerly incarcerated people's successful reentry into the workforce.
NYC Bar Association
CJEI Joins with NYC Bar Association on Webinar

CJEI and the Yang Tan Institute Welcome Pinkerton Fellow

Pinkerton Fellow Marco Tang. Mr. Tang, a student at CUNY’s John Jay College, will be working for a year with CJEI and YTI in a variety of areas.
John Jay College Exterior
CJEI and the Yang Tan Institute Welcome Pinkerton Fellow

Cannabis Careers for Justice-Impacted

Timothy McNutt, Director of ILR's Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative, participated in the NYS AFL-CIO’s Union Strong Podcast about “Adult-Use Cannabis – Building a new industry from the ground up in a way that will raise revenue, create good union jobs, and address social, racial, and economic equity."
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Cannabis Careers for Justice-Impacted

Meet the CJEI Team

Esta R. Bigler, Esq.

  • Director, Labor and Employment Law Programs, ILR School
Esta Bio

Esta Bigler, Esq., as Director of Cornell University ILR’s Labor and Employment Law Program, uses her extensive background in labor and employment law to convene conferences and forums studying the

Timothy McNutt, Esq.

  • Director, Cornell ILR's Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative
Tim McNutt

Timothy McNutt, Esq., as Director of Cornell ILR’s Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative, uses his extensive background in criminal law, litigation, and policy to assist peopl

Stephanie Sutow, M.Ed.

  • Program Coordinator
ILR 75th Anniversary Logo

Stephanie Sutow, M.Ed, brings an eclectic background to CJEI.

Support CJEI

Your contribution makes a difference

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Make a gift

You can also volunteer your time and expertise

Attorneys can volunteer for pro bono opportunities.

Students can apply for internship opportunities.

 

Contact us at cjei@cornell.edu