John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity

What John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity does

The John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity is a non-profit academic institute operating within John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) public university system. Founded in 2005 as the Prisoner Reentry Institute and rebranded around 2020 under its current name, the institute works to eliminate barriers to higher education, employment, housing, and healthcare for people impacted by the criminal legal system. Its core programs are organized into two service lines. Educational Pathways comprises Prison-to-College Pathways (college courses inside correctional facilities), the Student Success Initiative Program (SSIP), Pathways to GED, and Legal Services. Career Pathways includes the Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship (a graduate-level, tuition-remitted practicum placing John Jay students at NYC advocacy host organizations), Tech 101 and Tech 201 training modules, the Navigator Certificate in Human Services and Community Justice, and Collective Leadership Supervisory Training. The institute also convenes the CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative across all 25 CUNY campuses and runs policy advocacy initiatives such as Fair Chance for Housing and Navigating Barriers to Opportunity.

The institute's technology footprint is a WordPress-based publishing platform (justiceandopportunity.org) hosting an interactive Navigating Higher Education and Employment Resource Toolkit, downloadable toolkits and guides, a free four-module Unlocking Employment online course delivered via CUNY School of Professional Studies' Swoogo registration platform, a Mailchimp newsletter, and YouTube-hosted video content (including the Tow Talks series). Its revenue model is entirely non-commercial and grant-funded: foundation grants (Tow Foundation as the flagship funder of the Tow Fellowship, plus Ewing Marion Kauffman, Lumina, Jacob and Valeria Langeloth, and Robert Wood Johnson), federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, and National Institute of Corrections, individual donations via the institute's website, and institutional support from John Jay College and the broader CUNY system. The Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship provides full in-state tuition remission plus a $2,000 opportunity grant per fellow, while publications, toolkits, and the online course are distributed free of charge. Operations are led by Executive Director Andre Ward (joined 2024), with a staff headcount in the 11-50 range.

Name

John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity

Legal name

John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity

Website

https://justiceandopportunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity is a non-profit academic institute within John Jay College (CUNY) that creates educational and career pathways for people impacted by the criminal legal system in New York, while publishing toolkits, running the Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship, and convening the cross-CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative to drive fair chance policy reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reentry Education and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrections & Reentry Adult Literacy (Justice-Involved Learners) (EDAAAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK), Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI)

Keywords

• Reentry education services
• Criminal justice reform
• Policy advocacy training
• Higher education access
• Workforce development services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants (Tow Foundation): The Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship is funded by the Tow Foundation and provides full in-state tuition remission for the fall and spring semesters plus an opportunity grant of $2,000 per fellow; fellows paying out-of-state tuition cover the difference.
2. Individual Donations: Revenue solicited via a public 'Donate' page on the institute's website to support general operations.
3. Project Grants from Foundations and Government: Multi-year, project-based grants from foundations and government bodies fund specific research and resource projects (e.g., Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation funded Venturing Beyond the Gates; Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation funded the Solitary Confinement colloquium; National Institute of Corrections funded Greening of Corrections and the Jail Administrator's Toolkit; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded Mapping Innovation in Correctional Health Care; U.S. Department of Education funded Back to School; U.S. Department of Justice funded Employing Your Mission).
4. Institutional / Host Funding within John Jay College (CUNY): As an institute within John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), the organization receives institutional support and access to CUNY intellectual resources; the Tow Fellowship also leverages in-state tuition remission through CUNY's structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity runs integrated educational and career pathway programs for people impacted by the criminal legal system, including prison-to-college pipelines, on-campus supports, a navigator certificate, and a fully subsidized graduate policy advocacy fellowship. It supplements these direct-service programs with policy advocacy (CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative, Navigating Barriers to Opportunity) and a large catalog of free publications, toolkits, and a self-paced online course for individuals and the providers who serve them.

Product overview

The John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity is a non-profit educational institute that offers a portfolio of integrated programs organized around two core service lines — Educational Pathways (including Prison-to-College Pathways, the Student Success Initiative Program, Pathways to GED, and Legal Services) and Career Pathways (including Tech 101, Tech 201, the Navigator Certificate in Human Services and Community Justice, and Collective Leadership Supervisory Training). These core programs are complemented by the Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship, the CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative, and the Navigating Barriers to Opportunity policy advocacy initiative, plus a suite of self-service publications and toolkits such as the Navigating Higher Education and Employment Resource Toolkit, Unlocking Employment online course, the Language Guide, the Getting to Work with a Criminal Record NYS License Guides, the Getting the Record Straight Background Checks guide, and the College After Prison whitepaper.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship: Prepares John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduate students for careers in policy advocacy at city, state, and federal level through hands-on internships and complementary coursework.
• Prison-to-College Pathways (P2CP)
• Student Success Initiative Program (SSIP)
• College Initiative
• Navigator Certificate in Human Services and Community Justice
• CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative

Products and services

• Educational Pathways Integrated set of programs creating access to higher education for students with histories of justice involvement, encompassing Prison-to-College Pathways, Student Success Initiative Program (SSIP), Pathways to GED, and Legal Services.
• Prison-to-College Pathways (P2CP) College-in-prison program providing higher education courses to incarcerated individuals, creating access to college for students with histories of justice involvement.
• Student Success Initiative Program (SSIP) Program supporting students with criminal legal system involvement throughout their higher education journey at John Jay College.
• Pathways to GED Program helping students prepare for and earn their GED in New York City as a pathway to further education and employment.
• Career Pathways Program promoting access to training and employment for people involved in the criminal justice system, with a focus on creating pathways to careers in the human services field. Includes Tech 101, Tech 201, Navigator Certificate, and Collective Leadership Supervisory Training.
• The Navigator Certificate in Human Services and Community Justice Certificate program designed to prepare students impacted by the criminal legal system for careers in human services and community justice, with a defined Navigator curriculum.
• Collective Leadership Supervisory Training Supervisory leadership training offered as part of Career Pathways for individuals pursuing supervisory roles in human services and community justice.
• Tow Policy Advocacy Fellowship Prepares John Jay College graduate students for careers in policy advocacy by placing them in nine-month internships at NYC advocacy organizations, paired with the PAD 814-816 graduate-level practicum covering policy analysis, communication, leadership, political awareness, and research. Provides full in-state tuition remission and a $2,000 opportunity grant.
• CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative A 2020-launched community of CUNY faculty, staff, and students pursuing priorities to reduce barriers to opportunity for students impacted by the criminal legal system across the 25-campus CUNY system. Includes a dedicated listserv and shared web presence.
• Navigating Barriers to Opportunity Policy advocacy initiative supporting students with past criminal legal system involvement to navigate background checks and barriers to education and economic opportunity, while helping college and university staff minimize such barriers.
• Navigating Higher Education and Employment: Resource Toolkit For People Impacted by the Criminal Legal System Comprehensive interactive online toolkit and resource hub that walks people impacted by the criminal legal system through setting and organizing educational and professional goals, organized into four sequential phases (Before You Enroll, Enrolling, While You're In College, Preparing for Graduation and Finding Employment).
• Unlocking Employment: How to Partner with Job Seekers Impacted by the Legal System Free 90-minute self-paced online course with four modules, interactive exercises, case studies, and a resource library, designed to build capacity for NYC providers working with job seekers who have legal-system involvement. Co-developed with CUNY School of Professional Studies and the NYC Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity.
• John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity's Language Guide Guide providing suggested terms to describe people and communities impacted by the criminal legal system, plus a letter on why words matter. Includes a print-friendly one-pager graphic.
• Getting to Work with a Criminal Record: New York State License Guides (2020 Expanded Edition) Guides explaining the licensing process for 25 high-demand New York State occupations for people with conviction records, with the goal of dispelling myths about licensing accessibility.
• Getting the Record Straight: A Guide to Navigating Background Checks Guide designed to help people with conviction records understand what appears on their conviction record, prepare for a background check, and respond to related questions.
• College After Prison Whitepaper White paper synthesizing existing literature on higher education for formerly incarcerated individuals, co-authored with CUNY Office of Research, Evaluation, and Program Support (REPS) as part of their contracted evaluation of College Initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86 percent of people with conviction records who applied for New York State occupational licensing in 2018 were approved
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• City University of New York (CUNY)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ecosystem of John Jay College and 25-campus system in which the institute operates; launched the CUNY Justice Learning Collaborative in 2020 to support system-impacted students across CUNY. The institute also co-developed the Unlocking Employment course with CUNY School of Professional Studies.
• NYC Mayor's Office for Economic OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for the development of the Unlocking Employment online course, which targets NYC providers working with job seekers with legal-system involvement and highlights NYC's Fair Chance Act.
• CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the Unlocking Employment online course and hosts the registration page (cuny.swoogo.com/unlocking-employment).
• Bronx DefenderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Policy Advocacy Fellows in its Policy and Community Organizing Department; fellows work on civil forfeiture reform, holistic defense policy, and the Records Accuracy Project (R.A.P.).
• Osborne AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows supporting the New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents (NYCIP), the See Us Support Us campaign, and the Youth Action Council.
• Fortune SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows at the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy; fellows research criminal justice debt, the Reentry Veterans Initiative, and the Fair Chance for Housing campaign.
• Correctional Association of New York (CANY)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows on its Research and Policy team for oversight of NYS prisons, transparency and accountability, and the Raise the Age campaign.
• Vera Institute of JusticecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows within its Center on Sentencing and Corrections supporting the Safe Alternatives to Segregation (SAS) Initiative.
• Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows building coalitions and supporting safe drug policy reform campaigns throughout New York State.
• Legal Action CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of several published resources featured on the institute's Resources page (Lowering Conviction Record Barriers, Sealing Old New York Convictions, Reference Letter Template, NYS RAP Sheet guide). Also a Tow Fellowship host site supporting policies that remove barriers for people with addiction, HIV/AIDS, and criminal records.
• NYC Commission on Human RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of the 'Criminal Record You Can Work With That' resource featured in the institute's resource library, providing guidance on NYC Fair Chance Act and related protections.
• Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of multiple Federal Grant Programs and Federal Student Loan Program resources distributed via the institute's Resources page.
• Social Security AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-source of the 'Applying for Social Security Card' resource featured on the institute's Resources page.
• Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with the institute on 'Is College For Me?', a pocket-sized fold-out that demystifies the process of enrolling in college for system-impacted students.
• National Association of Counties (NACo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed 'Housing for the Justice-Involved: The Case for County Action,' laying foundations for effective county action on reentry housing.
• The Urban InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 'Transition from Jail to Community' Online Learning Toolkit with the National Institute of Corrections, 'Partnering with Jails to Improve Reentry,' and 'From the Classroom to the Community.'
• CUNY Office of Research, Evaluation, and Program Support (REPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVernisa M. Donaldson and Christopher Viera of CUNY REPS co-authored 'College After Prison' as part of their contracted evaluation of College Initiative.
• New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for college-in-prison programs; the institute's resource guide 'Reflections on Building a Partnership with Corrections' is designed for programs operating in DOCCS facilities.
• JustLeadershipUSAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows supporting the #JustUS campaign and grassroots organizing on emergency preparedness for correctional facilities.
• Katal Center for Equity, Health, and JusticeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows working on bail reform (#LessIsMoreNY, #CutShutInvestNY) and the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act.
• Women's Community Justice Association (WCJA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows supporting #BEYONDRosies and gender-specific decarceration advocacy.
• MFY Legal ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows working on three-quarter house tenant organizing and housing/tenant rights policy reform.
• College & Community Fellowship (CCF)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows working on the Education from the Inside Out Coalition.
• Citizens Budget CommissionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows researching city and state budget allocation, overtime expenditures, resiliency, and broadband access.
• Sanctuary for FamiliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows in its Legal Department's Incarcerated Gender Violence Survivors Initiative supporting the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA).
• Children's Defense Fund (CDF)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows working on the Youth Justice Research Collaborative and the Raise the Age campaign.
• Exodus Transitional Communities Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows learning about grant proposals, policy advocacy, and facilitating workshops.
• Youth Justice Network (YJN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows supporting youth justice research and advocacy.
• Women Against Mass Incarceration (WAMI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows researching the intersection of gun laws, domestic violence, and women with violent convictions.
• Her JusticeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Tow Fellows focusing on analysis of justice issues on immigrant policy and VAWA reauthorization.
• Drive Change NYCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a past or current Tow Fellowship host site.
• National Network for Safe CommunitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a past or current Tow Fellowship host site.
• The New York FoundlingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a past or current Tow Fellowship host site.
• NY RenewsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a past or current Tow Fellowship host site.
• Social InkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrooklyn-based web design and development partner; site footer notes 'Site designed and developed by Social Ink' - a Brooklyn-based outfit that works with nonprofits and foundations, educators and creatives, and businesses large and small.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bronx Defenders: NYC holistic defense and civil-justice provider serving low-income Bronx residents. Comparable as a Tow Fellow host site, an active policy advocacy partner on the Records Accuracy Project, and a peer advocate for people impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Bard Prison Initiative: Bard College's college-in-prison program offering liberal-arts degrees to incarcerated students across NYS. Comparable as a peer higher-education-in-prison provider and a peer advocate for postsecondary access for system-impacted populations.
• Drug Policy Alliance: National drug-policy reform organization headquartered in NYC. Comparable as a Tow Fellow host site and a peer advocacy organization driving NYS policy change on criminal-legal reform (#LessIsMoreNY and related campaigns).
• JustLeadershipUSA: National organization led by directly-impacted people working to cut the U.S. correctional population in half. Comparable as a Tow Fellow host site and peer advocacy organization focused on decarceration and reentry.
• Osborne Association: NYC reentry nonprofit serving people in NYS prisons and jails through programs, advocacy, and the NYC Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents. Comparable as a host-site partner for Tow Fellows and a directly-aligned reentry services + advocacy organization.
• Fortune Society: NYC-based reentry and advocacy nonprofit offering housing, education, employment, and the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy. Direct host-site partner for Tow Fellows and a comparable reentry-services + policy advocacy organization serving justice-impacted New Yorkers.
• Vera Institute of Justice: National nonprofit driving criminal-legal-system reform through research, technical assistance, and direct services. Comparable as a peer justice-reform research/policy organization that also hosts Tow Fellows and works on reentry, sentencing, and correctional policy.
• Legal Action Center: National law and policy organization fighting discrimination against people with criminal records, HIV/AIDS, and substance-use histories. Comparable as a Tow Fellow host site, co-author of the institute's licensing and sealing guides, and a peer reentry/legal-barrier-removal advocate.

Emerging players

• Center for Urban Pedagogy: NYC nonprofit that uses design and art to make civic systems accessible. Comparable as a collaborator on the 'Is College For Me?' fold-out and a peer that designs accessible public-facing educational tools for system-impacted communities.
• Council on Criminal Justice: Bipartisan national criminal-justice policy think tank. Comparable as a peer policy-influence venue — former IJAO Executive Director Ann Jacobs was elected to the Council — and a peer organization that translates research into state and federal policy reform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/justiceandopp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/InstituteforJusticeandOpportunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/justiceandopp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-justice-and-opportunity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity