60%
reported no formal system for tracking CRJA cases in their office
Research · California Racial Justice Act
From systemic racism to health equity.
The Lab examines how the California Racial Justice Act is understood and implemented, and what practitioners say they need to support equitable access to justice.
Based on the Lab’s roundtable presentation at the Law & Society Association Annual Meeting, May 29, 2026.
Why it matters
Justice systems shape health and well-being.
The Lab approaches the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) as both a legal and public health issue. Racial bias in criminal proceedings can intersect with trauma, family and community disruption, economic instability, and access to care.
The Lab’s work brings public health, legal practice, and community perspectives together to understand implementation barriers and inform research, education, and policy conversations.
The project’s guiding question: what would a fully implemented CRJA look like in practice across California?
2025 survey snapshot
Practitioners identified gaps in tracking, training, and statewide support.
In spring 2025, the Lab surveyed legal professionals involved in CRJA practice across California jurisdictions. The mixed-format survey included 53 respondents from more than 20 counties.
70%
identified a strong need for a centralized, searchable CRJA database
40%
had received no CRJA-specific training at the time of the survey
Percentages describe survey respondents, not all California legal professionals or cases. Results are a snapshot from the survey period.
What participants raised
Barriers are practical as well as legal.
The presentation grouped responses into three recurring themes:
Uneven implementation
Respondents described differences in funding, local policy, and CRJA use across counties.
Practice challenges
Training needs, procedural uncertainty, and lack of consistent guidance were identified.
Tracking and access
Some offices lacked formal case tracking, with information kept in manual or separate systems.
Needs identified in the survey
- Centralized, searchable case information
- CRJA-specific training and consistent guidance
- Practical courtroom reference materials, including bench cards
- Technical support for legal offices
How the survey was conducted
A practitioner-informed, mixed-methods snapshot.
The presentation describes a 10-question survey distributed in spring 2025 through professional networks, including the California Public Defenders Association listserv and targeted outreach. It used snowball sampling and included closed- and open-ended questions about tracking, legal clarity, resource needs, and implementation barriers.
Important limitations
- Participation was voluntary, and respondents may have been more engaged with or familiar with the CRJA.
- Most respondents were public defenders; the presentation reports that no judges participated.
- County representation was uneven, and the survey reflects a single point in an evolving legal and policy landscape.
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