This spring, MOCJ expanded Next Mile NYC to connect incarcerated New Yorkers on Rikers Island with in-demand skills for the commercial driving industry, establishing clear pathways to high-paying careers post-release.
Through a partnership with Emerge Career, a national workforce training company, Next Mile NYC participants complete 40 hours of virtual commercial driver’s license (CDL) training while in custody, followed by hands-on, tech-enabled instruction after release.
With the city’s new $2.9M investment, the expansion will connect nearly 300 justice-impacted New Yorkers to meaningful, long-term employment opportunities as they prepare to return to community.
Access to stable employment is associated with successful reentry and lower rates of recidivism. By investing in career pathways before release, Next Mile NYC is contributing to safer communities across the city.
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