An innovative rehabilitation and reentry program called Hustle 2.0 is offering incarcerated individuals at several CoreCivic facilities nationwide the tools and resources to change their mindset and map out a positive future for themselves. Hustle 2.0 includes three workbooks and optional collaborative sessions with other participants and CoreCivic housing unit staff leaders.

Hustle 2.0 uses an evidence-based, trauma-informed curriculum generated by both those with lived experience and thought leaders in the correctional rehabilitation space. Coursework focuses on these six goals:

1. Replacing criminality with prosocial thinking and behavior
2. Promoting positive relationships and community
3. Developing empathy and emotional awareness
4. Providing effective coping strategies
5. Building good habits, breaking bad habits
6. Preparing incarcerated individuals for reentry and post-release employment

The Hustle 2.0 workbooks are self-directed learning experiences that can be completed at a participant's own pace. In total, the books have 32 courses that teach lessons in building and maintaining healthy relationships, exploring your feelings, victim impact, and more. CoreCivic launched Hustle 2.0 at several of its facilities in 2022, with more than 1,500 residents participating in the program since.

The Hustle 2.0 program is well established at CoreCivic's Bent County Correctional Facility in Las Aminas, Colorado. Participants at Bent report that the program has empowered them to become better men.

"This program has taught me how to be better, it gave me the tools to be able to recognize people from all walks of life and respect where they come from," one participant shared.

Another participant said, "the program shows . . . you can choose to be better, to pick what you really want to do, to be smarter, to make myself proud, to make my family proud. I'd rather do that, so I choose to do that."

When participants successfully complete a Hustle 2.0 course book, they receive a certificate of completion. In fact, those who complete all three books receive college credit from Southern Utah University.

Hustle 2.0 participants learn tangible skills and practical tools they can confidently apply in areas including employment readiness, coping skills, substance use and relapse prevention, reentry planning, and more. There are no program waitlists, so anyone who is interested in joining the Hustle 2.0 program is welcome to do so at any time.