About

The Institute for Justice and Opportunity is a center of research and action at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The Institute is committed to:

• Increasing opportunities for people to live successfully in the community after involvement with the justice system.
• Capitalizing on its position within a large public university to contribute to expanding access to higher education for people with criminal histories.
• Taking a comprehensive and strategic approach that includes direct service, research, technical assistance, and policy advocacy.

The Institute’s programs focus on creating opportunity. Through our Educational Pathways, PRI offers a college program at Otisville Correctional Facility and credit-bearing college classes Rikers Island. The Institute’s College Initiative programs supports individuals with criminal justice system involvement in enrolling and succeeding in college in the community. The Institute’s Career Pathways prepares and helps place individuals with justice involvement in employment, with a special focus on careers in the human services field. The Institute also offers several fellowship programs, which combine hands-on fieldwork experience with complementary academic exploration to prepare students for careers in the fields of juvenile justice, policy advocacy, and philanthropy. Lastly, the Institute engages in research initiatives on subjects affecting justice-involved populations, hosts convenings and trainings to develop professionals in the field, and leads advocacy campaigns to change policies and practices that dehumanize and marginalize people with conviction histories.