Managing Background Screenings and Fair‑Chance HiringCornell Course

Jason Hoge was admitted to practice in the Courts of New York State in 2005. Jason’s dedication to justice led him to establish a Reentry Project for the Rochester office of Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY). In this role, he passionately represented individuals with prior convictions, navigating various legal forums to help them overcome the barriers and stigma associated with criminal records during their reintegration into society.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of Reentry, Jason was honored with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Denison Ray Award in 2008, acknowledging his extraordinary commitment to providing creative, skilled, and zealous representation to low-income and disadvantaged clients.

In 2017, Jason expanded his legal practice to California, where he was admitted to practice. He served as Parent’s Defense counsel in child neglect and abuse matters in Alameda County (East Bay Family Defenders) and advocated for the housing and employment rights of survivors of domestic violence throughout the State of California with the Family Violence Appellate Project.

Before relocating to Oakland, CA, Jason contributed as the Practitioner-In-Residence at Syracuse University College of Law, focusing on criminal defense clinic work. His earlier roles include serving as an Assistant Public Defender in Wayne County, NY, and with the Monroe County Public Defenders’ Office, where he was assigned to Rochester City Court.

In early 2022, Jason returned to LawNY, bringing his wealth of experience and dedication to the practice of Reentry Law. In early 2024, Jason joined the team at Cornell University’s ILR School’s Criminal Justice Economic Initiative (CJEI) as the “Reentry Legal Specialist ” to assist in expanding CJEI’s mission. In September 2025 Jason departed from his supervisor role at LawNY’s Reentry Project and returned to his other legal passion of practicing criminal law by returning to the Wayne County Public Defender’s Office.

Thomas Jones is a purpose-driven individual and a Cornell ILR School graduate. Thomas formerly served as a Fair Employment Practice Specialist, supporting Central HR, the Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI), and the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP). His journey as a returning citizen has fostered a profound sense of empathy and appreciation for people. Growing up in a family that hosted foster care, Thomas began working at 14, gaining invaluable life experiences along the way.

Thomas’s professional background spans a diverse array of industries, including aerospace, academia, trucking, restaurants, warehousing, and healthcare. He specializes in key HR functions, such as HR technology and talent acquisition. Thomas is deeply passionate about driving organizational change, employment advocacy, equity, and access initiatives, expanding employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. He also seeks to shift the perspective of HR professionals toward valuing positive and progressive talent.

Thomas’s work is centered on creating impactful solutions that both recognize the value of all employees and align performance with organizational goals. Those interested in learning more about Thomas’s journey can find features about him in the Cornell Chronicle and the ILR School.

Matthew Saleh, J.D., Ph.D., is Director of Research at the Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI). Matt’s research focuses on career pathways and workforce development for youth with barriers to employment, such as justice involvement. At Cornell, Matt teaches undergraduate courses in the disability studies program and a course in the Government Department on mass incarceration in the United States. With CJEI, Matt has funding from the New York State Legislature, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), and Department of Labor to deliver trainings on legal requirements for employers related to hiring people with criminal convictions. Matt has been a Principal Investigator (PI) on numerous federal justice innovation and reform grants from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and more.

Timothy McNutt, is the former Director of the Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI) at the Cornell ILR School’s Center for Applied Research on Work. Mr. McNutt co-founded CJEI in 2017 to provide criminal records and employment law training to job seekers who have been involved in the criminal legal system, assist employers in establishing fair chance hiring practices, engage in research to study reentry practices, and influence policy makers and legislators on criminal justice reform.

Mr. McNutt’s work focused on the use of background checks as a screening device for employment, the impact of employment on reducing recidivism, employer attitudes toward hiring justice-impacted individuals, and the collateral consequences of incarceration. He, along with his CJEI colleagues, created Restorative Records, a job-readiness platform that allows individuals with criminal records to share their skills, core competencies, micro-credentials, and rehabilitation stories. It helps applicants present evidence-based predictors of employability that demonstrate a more complete picture of their abilities, community engagement, supplemental education, and professional networks.

Mr. McNutt is a former prosecutor with over eight years of experience, most recently with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and a former board member of Equal Justice Works, a non-profit that facilitates opportunities for law students and lawyers to engage in public service and bring lasting change to under-served communities across the country.