
Michael Mendoza is Latino Justice's National Criminal Justice Director, based on Sacramento, California.
At 15, Michael was transferred to adult court and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. While incarcerated, Michael turned his life around and focused on healing and education to become the person he wanted to be. Changes in California state law gave Michael the opportunity to demonstrate that he matured into a healthy and prosocial adult.
Michael earned his release in 2014 after 17 years of incarceration. He immediately began advocating for juvenile and criminal justice and earned a B.A. degree in political science from San Francisco State University. Throughout his career, Michael has helped pass over two dozen pieces of legislation in California and other states across the country testifying and advocating for key changes to law including. His favorite bill to work on was SB 1391 which made California the first state in the country to prohibit 14- and 15-year-old kids from being transferred to adult court in 2018.
The California state legislature has also recognized Michael for his advocacy and impact on the juvenile and criminal justice system and reentry. Michael is appointed by President Biden as a Member Practitioner for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to ensure we treat children like children, keep them close to home, and provide children meaningful opportunities to reach their full potential.