New push for California prison reform aims to unite advocates, survivors, state officials

by Steve Brooks with Dr. Gabriella Licata, Bay City News December 12, 2025December 9, 2025

An audience listens to a panel discussion on criminal justice reform during the Fall Summit at Embassy Suites in Sacramento, which took place Nov. 12-13, 2025. The event brought together a diverse group of nonprofit organizations and formerly incarcerated men and women to share their ideas and experiences. From left to right are panelists Amend at UCSF Director of Strategy and Innovation Daryl Norcott, Land Together Interim Executive Director Karen Hsueh, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Chief of Mental Health Dr. Matthew Borba. (Gabriella Licata via Bay City News)

A DIVERSE GROUP of organizations working toward prison reform came together for a discussion about building coalitions, power, and aligning messaging to help transform California prisons.

The criminal justice reform nonprofits Smart Justice California and Whole Consulting collaborated to plan a Fall Summit that took place Nov. 12-13 at the Embassy Suites in Sacramento.

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