Extend Trust to Earn Trust

The East L.A. neighborhood of Boyle Heights is a rough place. Plagued by violent crime and poverty, this rundown area has a history of gangs and prison sentences.

In fact, more than 65% of ex-cons in California are back in jail within three years. This recidivist behavior represents an enormous cost to society, both in terms of prosecution and imprisonment of the perpetrators, and also for the toll they take on their victims and the public safety of their communities.

The cycle is extremely dif...