Mayor Zohran Mamdani is taking his commercial driver training push straight into Rikers Island, expanding the city’s Next Mile NYC program to people currently in custody. Announced yesterday, the move will let eligible individuals start a 40-hour online curriculum while at Rikers, then finish hands-on driving instruction and testing after they get out. City officials say a Fiscal Year 2026 investment of $2.9 million will add roughly 290 training slots and plug graduates into well-paying driving jobs.
In a press release from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, city leaders pitched the expansion as a reentry-first strategy that combines real-world skills with direct employer connections. "Expanding 'Next Mile NYC' to Rikers Island will create real pathways from incarceration to stable, well‑paying jobs," Mamdani said. MOCJ Director Deanna Logan echoed that focus, adding, "Stable employment is one of the strongest predictors of success upon returning to community."
How the Rikers rollout will work
People in custody who qualify will complete a 40-hour, self-paced online course and take the Commercial Learner’s Permit exam while still on Rikers, then move on to roughly 120 hours of in-person driving instruction and the CDL exam after release, as reported by FOX 5 NY. The hybrid setup blends on-screen lessons with one-on-one coaching and offers logistical help with issues like transportation and childcare once participants are back in the community.
MOCJ says the training will be delivered through a contracted vendor that lines up graduates with vetted Fair-Chance employers, aiming to make the transition from jail to job as close to seamless as possible.
Early results and hiring pipeline
Program materials from MOCJ point to strong early outcomes even before the Rikers expansion. To date, 266 participants have earned Commercial Learner’s Permits and 99 have secured full CDLs, according to the agency. Of those, 93 received job offers and 64 landed full-time positions, with an average starting salary reported at about $90,200.
The city also notes that no participants have been reported rearrested so far, a statistic officials highlight as evidence that tying training directly to employment can support successful reentry. The FY26 expansion is meant to bring those results to a larger share of people in custody.
Who qualifies and who’s running it
Next Mile NYC is designed for justice-involved New Yorkers who meet vocational eligibility and residency rules and who are otherwise cleared to take part. Beyond the coursework, the program builds in wraparound supports and daily coaching to keep people on track through a process that can easily derail.
The initiative runs in partnership with Emerge Career, which delivers the digital learning platform, individualized coaching, and employer placement services. For more on the company’s model and track record, see Emerge Career.
Why officials say it matters
City leaders say Next Mile NYC tackles two stubborn problems at once: high unemployment among people coming home from incarceration and chronic worker shortages in trucking and logistics. Earlier coverage of the city’s CDL push spotlighted how the initiative can open doors to steadier careers for people with justice involvement; see how New York boosts career opportunities for background.
Enrollment pathways and application details are being shared through partner organizations and the program’s intake portal. City officials say they plan to keep releasing progress updates as new cohorts complete training, get licensed, and move into full-time work.
