Two Years In: Moving the Needle in Criminal Justice Reform

Presented as part of the Executive Strategic Plan Convening in Los Angeles, Two Years In: Moving the Needle in Criminal Justice Reform provides a systems-level examination of evolving criminal justice reform efforts across California and Los Angeles County.

Drawing from lived experience, regional coalition leadership, and cross-sector collaboration through the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP), the keynote explores the intersection of public safety, behavioral health, reentry infrastructure, public policy, and community reintegration.

The presentation examines emerging reforms involving:

  • bail reform,

  • youth diversion,

  • public defense modernization,

  • opioid response strategies,

  • prosecutorial reform,

  • probation transformation,

  • voting rights restoration,

  • and alternatives to incarceration.

Grounded in collaborative systems thinking, the keynote highlights how sustainable reform requires coordinated partnerships between public agencies, healthcare systems, advocates, educational institutions, community organizations, and directly impacted populations.

The work positions criminal justice reform not as an isolated policy change, but as an interconnected public health, economic, housing, behavioral health, and community development challenge requiring long-term systems transformation.

Topics Covered:

  • Criminal Justice Reform Systems Strategy

  • Regional Reentry Infrastructure Development

  • Bail Reform & Pretrial Justice

  • Public Defense Modernization

  • Prosecutorial Reform & Diversion Strategies

  • Youth Justice & Youth Diversion Models

  • Probation Reform & Community Supervision

  • Opioid Crisis Response & Harm Reduction

  • Public Health Approaches to Safety

  • Alternatives to Incarceration

  • Voting Rights Restoration & Civic Engagement

  • Housing Stability & Reentry Access

  • Employment Pathways for Returning Citizens

  • Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment Access

  • Immigration Justice & Legal Support Systems

  • Collaborative Government & Community Partnerships

  • Cross-Sector Systems Coordination

  • Policy Implementation & Reform Milestones

  • Community-Centered Justice Transformation

  • Long-Term Systems Change & Reform Sustainability