Timothy McNutt

Timothy McNutt, as Director of the Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI) at the Cornell ILR School’s Center for Applied Research on Work, uses his extensive background in criminal law, litigation, and policy to assist people with criminal records in reducing barriers to reentry and improving employment outcomes. 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 focuses 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.