From Cells to Solutions: Miami Hackathon Redefines Reentry

MIAMI, FL – May 07, 2026 – Inside the halls of St. Thomas University School of Law, an unusual coalition gathered not for a lecture, but for a revolution in criminal justice reform. For two days in late April, sheriffs sat with formerly incarcerated leaders, technologists brainstormed with policy advocates, and law students collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning artists. This was the Mission: Launch “Bank on 100 Million Miami Hackathon,” an ambitious event designed to move the conversation on prisoner reentry from abstract discussion to actionable, community-driven solutions.

The event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders to tackle one of society's most persistent challenges: how to ensure individuals with arrest or conviction records have a fair chance at a stable future. By focusing on workforce readiness, legal record relief, and innovative technology, the hackathon aimed to build tangible pathways to jobs, education, and stability.

“Miami came together to show what's possible when we remove silos from reentry solutions,” said Teresa Hodge, Founder and CEO of Mission: Launch. “Sheriffs sat alongside justice impacted leaders, and college students sparked conversations that haven't yet begun on many campuses. Most importantly, teams left with real solutions and concrete commitments they are carrying forward to improve reentry outcomes and expand opportunity.”

The Economic Equation for Public Safety

The hackathon’s mission is set against a stark economic backdrop in Florida. The state currently has more than 427,000 unfilled jobs, a significant labor shortage that impacts economic growth. Simultaneously, approximately 25,000 people return home from Florida's state prisons each year, entering a job market that is often hostile to their past.

According to data highlighted by event partners, the challenge is severe. “More than 27 percent of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed, which is higher than the peak unemployment rate during the Great Depression,” stated Saad Soliman, National Director of TimeDone, a key partner organization. “If we are serious about reducing recidivism, we have to act decisively to close that gap.”

Research powerfully illustrates the stakes. When a returning citizen secures employment within their first year of release, recidivism rates can plummet from as high as 70 percent to a mere 3 to 8 percent. The hackathon frames successful reentry not just as a moral imperative, but as a critical economic strategy for Florida—one that can fill needed jobs, strengthen the workforce, and dramatically improve public safety by breaking the cycle of re-incarceration.

A New Uniform: Sheriffs Join the Reentry Movement

Perhaps the most groundbreaking aspect of the Miami convening was the formal inclusion of law enforcement in the solution-building process. The event marked the first time sheriffs were officially integrated into the “Bank on 100 Million” series, signaling a potential paradigm shift in the role of corrections from punitive to rehabilitative.

Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County, NC, and Sheriff James Quattrone of Chautauqua County, NY, participated in a law enforcement-led session, sharing how their departments are embedding education and job readiness programs earlier in the incarceration timeline. Their work is part of a growing national movement, exemplified by the National Sheriffs' Association's I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) initiative.

I.G.N.I.T.E., now active in 35 counties across 15 states, treats education and skill-building as a core strategy for reducing recidivism. Research on the program by institutions including Harvard and Brown found that participation reduces jail misconduct by 25% and the 12-month societal cost of crime by over $7,000 per individual. Sheriff Quattrone launched the program in his county in 2023 to make participants “self-sufficient, law-abiding citizens,” while Sheriff McFadden has championed initiatives like in-jail job fairs and a new reentry recovery home to provide wraparound support.

From Code Sprints to Clean Slates

The two-day event was a flurry of focused activity. Participants broke into design sprints to tackle specific challenges, from developing tech-enabled upskilling platforms to creating more effective advocacy strategies. The goal was to generate practical, early-stage concepts that could be tested and scaled.

Beyond theoretical solutions, the hackathon delivered immediate, tangible impact. An on-site expungement and record-sealing clinic offered free legal assistance, allowing individuals to take the first critical step in clearing their records—a process that is often a prerequisite for obtaining stable housing and employment. This hands-on support, provided alongside partners like the Redemption Project, embodies the event’s commitment to action over rhetoric.

This collaborative spirit, which brought together organizations like the workforce-focused WorkingNation and the community-based Urban Impact Initiative Massachusetts, is central to Mission: Launch's theory of change: that the most effective solutions are co-created by those with diverse expertise and, most importantly, lived experience.

Building a Lasting Infrastructure for Second Chances

The energy and ideas generated in Miami are not intended to fade away. Mission: Launch and its partners have committed to developing the most promising concepts through the Bank on 100 Million network, with ongoing programming and pilot opportunities planned through 2027. This long-term vision aims to transform bold ideas into lasting infrastructure for justice-impacted people.

Underscoring this commitment, the hackathon also served as the public launch of Mission: Launch's new Center for Modern Reintegration. This initiative is dedicated to developing the standards, metrics, and research needed to define and measure genuine reintegration, translating those findings into effective policy and practice. By creating a framework for what success looks like, the Center aims to hold the entire justice ecosystem accountable for producing better, more humane outcomes. The work in Miami was not an end point, but a powerful launching pad for a more just and effective approach to second chances.