Hacking Recidivism: How Unlikely Allies Are Forging Florida's Future

MIAMI, FL – May 07, 2026 – In a law school auditorium typically filled with future attorneys, an unusual coalition gathered with a singular, urgent purpose. Sheriffs in uniform sat alongside formerly incarcerated leaders, tech developers huddled with community advocates, and employers brainstormed with Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Suave Gonzalez. This was the scene at Mission: Launch’s “Bank on 100 Million Hackathon,” a two-day convening at St. Thomas University School of Law designed to move the complex issue of prisoner reentry from conversation to concrete action.

The event aimed to dismantle the barriers that prevent millions of Americans with arrest or conviction records from securing jobs, education, and stability. By bringing together stakeholders who rarely share a room, the hackathon sought to generate practical, community-driven solutions. The Miami gathering was particularly significant, marking the first time in the decade-long series that sheriffs were formally integrated into the problem-solving process.

“Miami came together to show what’s possible when we remove silos from reentry solutions,” said Teresa Hodge, Founder and CEO of Mission: Launch, whose own experience with incarceration fuels her work. “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.”

A New Playbook for Law Enforcement

The most striking feature of the Miami hackathon was the active participation of law enforcement in designing solutions for the very populations they oversee. This represents a pivotal shift, reframing the role of corrections from solely punitive to proactively rehabilitative. Leading this charge were figures like Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County, NC, Sheriff James Quattrone of Chautauqua County, NY, and Claire McNally, representing the National Sheriffs’ Association’s (NSA) IGNITE initiative.

IGNITE, which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education, is a national program transforming county jails into centers for education and personal growth. First developed in Michigan in 2020 and adopted by the NSA a year later, the initiative has shown remarkable results. Independent research found that participation in an IGNITE program reduced jail misconduct by 25% and cut 3-month recidivism rates by 24%. By equipping incarcerated individuals with education and job training, the program is proving that investment inside facility walls yields safer communities outside.

During a law-enforcement-led session, the sheriffs detailed how this philosophy is being put into practice. They shared examples of in-facility job fairs that connect individuals directly with employers before release, partnerships with community colleges to provide accredited courses, and training programs specifically aligned with local workforce demands. These efforts culminate in pre-release graduation ceremonies, a powerful symbolic act that recognizes progress and provides a warm handoff to post-release opportunities, fundamentally changing the narrative of returning home.

Unlocking Florida's Untapped Workforce

The urgency of this work is amplified by Florida's unique economic landscape. The state is grappling with a severe labor shortage, with over 427,000 unfilled jobs. Simultaneously, approximately 25,000 people return home from state prisons each year, forming a vast and overlooked talent pool. The data reveals a tragic disconnect: the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated people nationally stands at over 27%, a figure higher than the peak unemployment rate during the Great Depression.

“If we are serious about reducing recidivism, we have to act decisively to close that gap,” said Saad Soliman, National Director of TimeDone, a membership community for people living with old convictions. “That’s why TimeDone is partnering with Mission: Launch and leaders across the justice ecosystem to connect returning citizens to meaningful work and help them build the economic foundation for a stable future.”

The economic and social return on investment is staggering. Research consistently shows that when a returning citizen secures stable employment within their first year of release, the likelihood of them reoffending plummets from as high as 70 percent to between 3 and 8 percent. This single factor—a job—is one of the most powerful tools against recidivism.

Recognizing this, the hackathon included a practical, high-impact component: an on-site expungement and record-sealing clinic. With free legal assistance from St. Thomas University law students, individuals could begin the often-daunting process of clearing their records. Studies have demonstrated that expungement can increase wages by an average of 25% within two years, primarily by opening doors to better, more stable employment and safer housing. For many, it is the first and most critical step in leaving the past behind.

Innovating Pathways to Stability

Beyond policy and legal aid, the event harnessed the power of technology and collaborative design. Participants broke into design sprints to workshop new tools and platforms focused on two key areas: reentry advocacy and technology-enabled upskilling. These sessions were not theoretical exercises; Mission: Launch and its partners have committed to developing the most promising concepts through 2027, ensuring the ideas born in Miami have a chance to become scalable, real-world solutions.

The collaborative spirit was bolstered by a diverse group of leaders. Ken Oliver of JUMP (Justice and Upward Mobility Project), an initiative leveraging cultural influence to create jobs, and Jynai McDonald of Urban Impact Initiative Massachusetts, which focuses on empowering formerly incarcerated women of color, brought deep expertise in workforce and community integration. This cross-pollination of ideas—from law enforcement, national advocacy groups like TimeDone, local service providers, and tech innovators—is the core of Mission: Launch’s methodology.

This model is a reflection of its founder, Teresa Hodge. After serving a 70-month federal sentence, Hodge reentered a world transformed by technology and dedicated herself to bridging the digital and opportunity divide for others. Her work, recognized by Forbes as one of its “50 over 50” in 2021, is a testament to the power of lived experience in designing effective systems for change. The Miami hackathon was more than just an event; it was a manifestation of a new, inclusive approach to justice reform, proving that the most effective solutions are built not for a community, but with it. For the thousands returning home to Florida each year, these collaborative efforts represent more than just a program; they represent a tangible pathway from a past record to a future opportunity.