About John

John Koufos started his career in New Jersey before moving to Washington, D.C., to work on national second chance hiring, healthcare and criminal justice issues. He helps companies of all sizes in tech, healthcare and AI integrations and solutions.

John’s work has helped thousands of people with criminal records secure jobs. He is a nationally recognized criminal justice advocate with deep experience building and leading criminal justice organizations and campaigns. He has worked with multiple Presidential Administrations, dozens of Governors and Cabinet members, and countless businesses and nonprofits.

John previously served as Director of Criminal Justice Advocacy at Arnold Ventures, Executive Director of the Safe Streets & Second Chances project, National Director of Reentry Initiatives at Right On Crime, and Executive Director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation. John was Certified as a Criminal Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court and has lived experience in the New Jersey state prison system after a successful career as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer. 

John produced and hosted Retaining Talent, a second chance hiring and retention training/documentary. Retaining Talent was filmed all across Florida and Washington, D.C., with businesses that hire people with criminal records, government officials, law enforcement, corporate and banking leaders, and at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His leadership in the business community was recognized in 2016 when NJBIZ named him one of New Jersey’s Top 40 Under 40. He is a regular speaker on criminal justice, healthcare, social determinants and workforce development, and helps cities, states, and the federal government to optimize reentry systems. John has been interviewed by a wide array of outlets including C-SPAN Washington Journal, the New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, Time Magazine, and dozens of radio outlets. His commentaries have been published in the New York Post, Governing Magazine, on Fox News, and in regional media around the nation.