PHOENIX — Governor Katie Hobbs signed an executive order on Monday launching Reentry 2030, a statewide initiative aimed at helping formerly incarcerated Arizonans reintegrate into society through job training and employment opportunities.
The effort is part of a broader bipartisan national campaign supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Council of State Governments. Arizona joins states like Nebraska, Alabama, and Missouri in working to reduce recidivism, protect taxpayer dollars, and increase public safety through second-chance employment programs.
“Creating pathways to work is essential to strengthening public safety and protecting taxpayer dollars,” Hobbs said. “People who have served their time, taken accountability, and put in the work to better themselves deserve a second chance and the opportunity to contribute to their families and our economy.”
The initiative will be led by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) under Director Ryan Thornell, who emphasized the role employers play in helping formerly incarcerated individuals rejoin the workforce.
“When employers train and hire formerly incarcerated individuals, they don’t just change individual lives, they strengthen the security and prosperity of entire communities,” Thornell said.
The executive order establishes a Reentry 2030 Working Group, which will coordinate with multiple state agencies—including the Department of Economic Security (DES), the Office of Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Health Services—to build stronger workforce development pipelines, apprenticeships, and vocational training for returning citizens.
DES Director Michael Wisehart called the initiative a turning point for Arizona’s workforce. “This work not only benefits the individual and their families, but it also benefits employers throughout the state.”
According to state data, roughly one in three Arizonans has a criminal record, and about 93% of incarcerated people will eventually reenter society. Yet less than half of those released in 2023 were employed a year later.
Investing in reentry programs not only reduces recidivism but also saves taxpayer money and addresses workforce shortages. The initiative aligns with Hobbs’ broader Talent Ready workforce plan to connect Arizonans across communities with high-demand, well-paying jobs.
“Reentry 2030 is about breaking the cycle of incarceration by transforming reentry into a pathway of possibility,” said Khalil Rushdan, Programs Manager for the Arizona Faith Network and a board member of the Arizona Justice Project. “When you hire someone with a record, you’re not taking a risk; you’re making an investment in resilience.”
The Reentry 2030 program officially launches Arizona into a national conversation about how to combine smart justice reform with long-term economic growth.
