MOCJ Programs
Community Justice Reentry Network
Redirecting justice-involved New Yorkers away from jails and into community-based support.
The Community Justice Reentry Network (CJRN) is a citywide reentry initiative offering paid transitional employment, discharge planning, job training, access to higher education, and holistic supportive services for justice system-involved individuals. CJRN was created to help prevent recidivism and ensure that people leaving jail have opportunities to pursue productive and stable lives.
Partner PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS
Services Provided & Focus Domains
Mental health & substance use treatment
Trauma‑informed individual and group counseling
Vocational, educational and housing supports
Housing Supports
Paid short-term and permanent employment placement
Impact & Highlights
Who it’s For
- Individuals citywide with a history of justice involvement
- Individuals in DOC and DOCCS custody
- Youth 13+ in ACS custody (Horizon and Crossroads)*
- Youth 13+ citywide with a history of justice impact*
Why?
In 2024, approximately 23,000 people left New York City’s jails and returned to their communities. Although many are successful in making the transition home, each year approximately 22% return to the city’s custody within one year of release.
History
Community Justice Reentry Network started in 2018 as a citywide initiative formerly known asJails to Jobs. In 2021, it expanded to CJRN, a network of 10 non-profit agencies servicing the five boroughs. CJRN provides a suite of supportive social services to thousands of justice-involved New Yorkers, helping them stabilize in the community.
CJRN supports the improvement of public safety and the reduction of recidivism by:
- Offering comprehensive education and employment, therapeutic, and supportive social services to individuals returning to the community from New York City jails.
- Tailoring opportunities and services to individuals’ specific risks, needs, and interests, inherently valuing individual choice and autonomy.
- Engaging clients in services through building trusting relationships.
- Providing services in neighborhoods with the greatest numbers of individuals released from jail by partnering with local faith-based or cultural institutions, small businesses, and other neighborhood organizations.
Insights from research and practice suggest that more can be done to improve individuals’ post-release outcomes in the community, particularly within the first 90 days of release. MOCJ’s Community Justice Reentry Network (CJRN) applies a coordinated and targeted approach to service delivery by providing access to comprehensive services immediately upon release from incarceration. Through an extensive provider network, CJRN maintains this level of support for the duration of an individual’s’ transition to living in the community. Most CJRN clients are placed in neighborhoods with the greatest numbers of individuals released from jail—a model drawn from research on best practices in reentry services.
Recent New York City-specific research on the needs of justice-involved individuals shows that there is substantial need for severe substance use and mental health services, as well as for employment, education, housing, and physical health services.
Partner Organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone with justice impact in their history is eligible to participate in reentry services.
No, participants are not supervised. However, each participant receives accountability partnership through Mentors and Case Managers that help to support their success.
CJRN programming is 100% voluntary. Providers have developed robust outreach and engagement strategies, with a focus on trust building, to help support retention and improve program success.
While citywide studies are ongoing, national research and local data suggest reentry programs significantly reduce recidivism when wraparound services are provided.