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NYC DOC Welcomes Commissioner Stanley Richards

NYC DOC sends a congratulations and welcome to Commissioner Stanley Richards, who officially started his tenure as the leader of our agency. 

Commissioner Richards is a formerly incarcerated man with decades of experience in the criminal justice field. He previously served as president and CEO of The Fortune Society, where he helped individuals successfully return to the community after incarceration and advanced alternatives to incarceration.
 
Commissioner Richards first joined The Fortune Society in 1991 as a reentry counselor and rose through the nonprofit’s ranks over the course of his career. In recognition of his commitment to supporting individuals impacted by the justice system, Commissioner Richards was named a Champion of Change by the Obama administration. 

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Richards served as First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, becoming the first formerly incarcerated individual to hold a senior leadership role within the agency. He was also the first formerly incarcerated person appointed to the New York City Board of Correction. 

Commissioner Richards earned his A.A. from Medaille College and pursued his B.A./M.P.H. from Hunter College. He was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation fellow in the Developing Leadership Program to Reduce Substance Abuse and completed Columbia University’s Institute for Nonprofit Management Executive Program.
 
Stay connected with Commissioner Richards on X at @DOCCommish.