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Corrections | Economic Mobility | Reentry

Job Training in Prison: Reentry 2030 States Explore Innovative Models and Partnerships

By Joshua Gaines

February 2, 2026

 

On January 15, state leaders in workforce development, education, and corrections from each of the Reentry 2030 states—Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Missouri, and Washington state—gathered for the fourth session of the Reentry 2030 Workforce Development Peer Learning Cohort to explore prison job training models that successfully align corrections, employers, and education providers to create pathways to sustainable jobs for people who were formerly incarcerated.

In recent years, states have significantly increased investments in correctional vocational programs and career and technical education programs in prisons, which is unsurprising given research showing that such programming contributes to reduced recidivism while providing states with substantial dollar-for-dollar returns on investment.

During the session, the states heard from officials involved in three forward-looking program models: Michigan’s Vocational Village, Missouri’s Aspire MO 2.0, and Alabama’s PREP Center.

Read the full recap on the Reentry 2030 website.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Image for:
Joshua Gaines
Deputy Program Director, Corrections and Reentry
Josh Gaines focuses on issues involving the collateral consequences of criminal conviction, barriers to work, and relief from the long-term impacts of a criminal record. In addition to providing direct technical assistance to state leaders and other stakeholders working to
...
safely expand opportunities for workers with criminal histories, he also oversees the CSG Justice Center's Fair Chance Occupational Licensing Project and the National Reentry Resource Center's Clean Slate Clearinghouse and National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction. Josh received his BA from North Carolina State University and his JD from the Washington College of Law at American University.
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