Meet James Nelson and Helen Jones, Los Angeles natives whose lives were forever upended by Los Angeles' unjust prison system. Helen Jones’ son was beaten to death by a sheriff’s gang in Men’s Central Jail and James Nelson, who was wrongfully convicted, served 29 years for a crime he did not commit.

Sadly, their stories are all too familiar. Yet through fortitude and resilience they chose to respond to the call to lead in community as organizers, public figures and now program leaders at Dignity Power Now. At DPN, Helen and James are providing support to individuals and families that are negatively affected by our criminal justice system, while calling for the closure of Men's Central Jail and a new system that puts community care first.

Create a Civilian Sheriff Oversight Commission to stop sheriff violence
Develop the LA County’s Care First, Jail Last roadmap
Pass Measure R, which granted increased civilian oversight and reduced LA jail populations
Reform the broken and racist cash bail system, and
Secured 750 more Office and Diversion and Re-entry beds in the 2022 October supplementary budget