OUR PROGRAMS
Juvenile
Justice
Initiative
The Juvenile Justice Initiative brings long-term arts and media programming into Los Angeles County juvenile justice settings, including camps, halls, and juvenile day reporting centers (JDRCs). Through creative practice, young people build technical skills, confidence, and continuity during a period that is often marked by instability and disconnection.
JJI is grounded in the belief that access to meaningful creative work matters, especially for young people navigating confinement and transition.
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Creative Skill-Building Across LA County Juvenile Justice Setting
JJI
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Programming takes place on-site and is designed to work within the specific conditions of each facility. Teaching Artists deliver sustained instruction in media arts, music, and visual art, allowing participants to develop skills over time rather than through one-off workshops.
Youth engage in hands-on projects that emphasize collaboration, self-expression, and follow-through. Instruction is adapted to meet site requirements while maintaining high expectations for creativity, care, and accountability.
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JJI is intentionally connected to pathways beyond confinement. Participants earn certificates of completion and are introduced to opportunities available through BHAC upon release, including continued arts training, paid internships, and workforce navigation through the Bridge Academy Movement (BAM).
Many young people continue their creative development with BHAC after returning home, allowing skills developed inside to carry forward into community-based work.
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The program recognizes the importance of consistency and trust. Teaching Artists and staff build relationships with participants over time, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and growth through creative practice.
Families are also an important part of this work. JJI acknowledges the role caregivers play and the trust they place in BHAC to provide meaningful programming and enrichment while their young people are inside.
Who JJI Serves
JJI serves high school– and college-aged youth across Los Angeles County who are currently incarcerated or involved in the juvenile justice system. Programming prioritizes sustained engagement, cultural relevance, and access to opportunity—regardless of a young person’s prior experience with the arts.