Familiar Faces Initiative

The Familiar Faces Initiative is a collaborative effort focused on individuals who repeatedly come into contact with the criminal legal system. These individuals often experience overlapping challenges—including behavioral health needs, housing instability, substance use disorders, and chronic poverty—that contribute to repeated interactions with law enforcement, courts, emergency departments, and other public systems. The initiative emphasizes cross-sector collaboration and person-centered solutions that promote long-term stability while reducing unnecessary justice system involvement.

Graduate student Jefferson Leon Garcia recently completed his Master's thesis, Introducing Holistic Criminal Defense to the Familiar Faces Initiative: A Butte County Study, under the guidance of BDEP Board Member Maitreya Badami, who served as his graduate advisor. The project was developed as part of a shared commitment to advancing the Familiar Faces Initiative in Butte County and serves as the first phase of a broader research agenda exploring how holistic criminal defense can improve outcomes for individuals who repeatedly cycle through the criminal legal system. Jefferson's research examines the structural barriers that contribute to repeated system involvement and identifies opportunities for greater coordination between legal, behavioral health, housing, and social service systems. Building on this foundation, Maitreya is continuing the next phase of the research through interviews with local stakeholders to further inform community-based solutions.

Together, Jefferson's thesis and Maitreya's ongoing research reflect BDEP's commitment to advancing evidence-based, community-driven strategies that strengthen collaboration across systems and improve outcomes for people most impacted by the criminal legal system.

Read Jefferson Leon Garcia's Master's Thesis below: