When people talk about criminal justice reform, they often focus on the big picture—laws, court systems, and political debates. And while those things matter, I’ve come to believe that real, lasting change starts much closer to home. It starts in our neighborhoods, in our schools, and most importantly, in how we reach out to the young people who are most vulnerable.

As a Navy veteran and community volunteer, I’ve spent years mentoring at-risk youth. I don’t have a degree in social work, and I’m not a politician. But I’ve seen what happens when young people feel like nobody’s paying attention—when the only time society notices them is when it’s too late. That’s why I’ve made it part of my mission to step in early, to listen, and to show up before they become another statistic in a broken system.

The Stories Behind the Numbers

You’ve seen the headlines: overpopulated prisons, youth incarceration, racial disparities in sentencing. But what we don’t always see are the faces behind those numbers. I’ve met kids who’ve grown up without a father in the home, who’ve been exposed to drugs and violence from the time they could walk, who’ve never been told they’re capable of more than just surviving.

These aren’t bad kids. They’re kids who’ve been failed by a system that punishes symptoms without addressing the root causes. When you take the time to really get to know them—to sit with them, talk with them, understand where they’re coming from—you realize that many of them are just looking for guidance, structure, and someone who believes in them.

That’s where local change begins. It begins with relationship.

Veterans as Mentors and Role Models

I come from a background of discipline, structure, and service. The Navy taught me the value of accountability, teamwork, and perseverance. Those lessons don’t just apply on a ship, they apply in everyday life. And they’re lessons I now pass on to the young men and women I mentor.

Veterans have a unique role to play in criminal justice reform—not by becoming part of the justice system, but by helping prevent young people from ever entering it. We’ve already served our country. Now we have the opportunity to serve our communities by guiding the next generation. By being the mentor we wish we had. By showing these kids a different path—one paved with purpose, not punishment.

Prevention Over Punishment

One thing I’ve learned as a volunteer is that we spend way too much time reacting and not enough time preventing. We wait until a kid gets in trouble, then we throw the book at them. But what if we invested earlier? What if we built strong local programs that focus on education, life skills, and mentorship? What if we created environments where kids feel safe, seen, and supported?

Criminal justice reform isn’t just about changing laws, it’s about changing lives. And that starts with showing up in the places where the system has historically failed. I’ve seen how a consistent mentor or a structured after-school program can make the difference between a young person finding their way or falling through the cracks.

A System That Reflects the People

Another issue I’ve noticed is the lack of community representation in the justice system. Many of the kids I work with don’t see people who look like them or understand their backgrounds in positions of influence. That creates a disconnect and a deep sense of distrust.

We need more community voices in law enforcement, in policymaking, and in youth outreach. Reform starts when the system reflects the people it’s meant to serve. That means creating space for diverse leadership and listening to those who are closest to the problem—because they’re often closest to the solution.

The Power of Showing Up

I’m not going to pretend that mentorship fixes everything. The challenges are real. But I can say this: the simple act of showing up consistently makes a huge impact. When a kid knows you’ll be there week after week—not because you have to, but because you want to—it changes the way they see themselves. It plants a seed of possibility.

Over time, that seed grows. It looks like a young man deciding to finish school instead of dropping out. It looks like a teenager applying for a summer job instead of getting caught up in the streets. It looks like a kid realizing he has options—and believing he’s worth more than a mugshot.

Reform is a Team Effort

If we’re serious about reform, we have to stop thinking someone else will take care of it. Real change happens when everyday people step up—veterans, teachers, parents, coaches, business owners. It takes a team to raise a child, and it takes a community to shift a system.

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care. You need to be willing to invest time, energy, and heart into the people right in front of you. Because when we lift them up, we lift up our entire community.

Final Thoughts

Criminal justice reform isn’t only about the courtroom or the Capitol building. It starts on our streets, in our schools, and in the spaces where kids are deciding who they want to be. We can wait for change to come from the top down—or we can start building it from the ground up.

For me, it starts with mentorship. With giving back. With believing that every young person, no matter where they come from, deserves a chance at something better. Veterans like me know what it means to serve. And now, it’s time to serve again—in the name of justice, hope, and a better future for us all.