Policy Updates

In a defining moment for justice-impacted families across Colorado, the state legislature has passed the CDOC Prison Visitation Rights Bill (HB-1013), with Governor Jared Polis expected to sign it into law in the coming days. This trailblazing legislation establishes visitation as a right, not a privilege, for individuals incarcerated in Colorado’s state prison system.

“I had the same enthusiasm with my new company as I did with CEO, and within three months I got a promotion,” Tiffani said. “The staff at CEO taught me that my past doesn’t define me, and encouraged me to be my best.”

Each year, more than 500,000 individuals return to their communities from prison, seeking meaningful employment and the opportunity for economic mobility. Union-affiliated jobs represent an incredible opportunity for individuals returning home from incarceration to achieve economic mobility as the union often successfully advocates for higher wages and stronger worker protections.

Devon Hickman, CEO Cleveland Site Director, testified before the Ohio legislature in support of SB 288, which expands opportunities for judicial release in Ohio.

In the American Jobs Plan, President Biden calls for a $100B workforce investment, including prioritizing justice-impacted individuals and subsidized employment as a proven training tool. As someone who has been there, it’s welcome news for the Administration to recognize just how hard it is for anyone with a history of incarceration to get a job.