It is a cornerstone of our beliefs that those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. Unlike some organizations that only hire directly impacted people for roles like casework and group facilitation, Hudson Link puts formerly incarcerated folks in positions of authentic leadership and authority.
Hudson Link has partnered with colleges across New York State to run degree-granting programs inside correctional facilities since 1998. Today, we have a community of over 1,500 released alumni, the largest network of college-educated formerly incarcerated individuals in the state.
We actively recruit formerly incarcerated people, especially Hudson Link graduates, to fill open staff positions. As a result, Hudson Link alumni serve on our Board of Directors and more than 50% of our staff are formerly incarcerated, including our Executive Director and three other members of our seven-person leadership team, leveraging lived experience in ways that other organizations cannot do.
We know formerly incarcerated folks have so much to offer to our shared communities, including our workplaces. That’s why we created a free Employer Toolkit for organizations looking to adopt fair chance hiring practices and equitable workplaces.
We hope to help employers understand the incredible value justice-involved people bring to your team and how hiring formerly incarcerated individuals can be the first step in changing your workplace culture. Together, we can challenge employers to confront personal biases and institutional policies that prevent the hiring and thriving of justice-involved folks!
At a time when the economy is at an all time high, hiring a person who has worked for decades for less than a dollar , faithfully and with expertise is just common sense. We must allow every employable individual the chance to restore all that was lost mentally, physically & financially to avoid recidivism and restorative justice to their communities. If each incarcerated person is worth $100 k+ per year to the state, why shouldn’t they be put into the tax system through earning a wage?!