About Our Founder, James L. DeBacco, MSW, DSW(s)

James L. DeBacco is a transformative social services leader with a powerful combination of lived experience and academic excellence. As a formerly incarcerated individual, veteran, and former foster youth, he brings unique insights to his work in criminal justice reform and veteran support services.

DeBacco earned his Master of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude from USC's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where he now pursues his Doctor of Social Work (DSW). As a Veterans Services Officer for Los Angeles County's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, he bridges policy and practice, building on his success as Program Manager at Beyond Us and Them, where he achieved an 85% service utilization rate.

His influence extends nationally through his role on the US Department of Education's Secretary's Innovation Committee on Corrections and the International Youth Conference. DeBacco has received congressional recognition for his work with the homeless in Los Angeles and justice-involved veterans in California prisons. He authored "Bridges to Freedom" and "Positive Interventions," co-hosts "Our Story Matters" podcast, and speaks at major conferences including the Military Transitions Summit at the University of Chicago.

DeBacco's journey exemplifies the transformative power of education and community support in correctional settings, making him a dynamic force in social services reform.

Post Incarceration Career And Accolades

James Leland DeBacco, Founder of Bridges2Freedom.org, has dedicated his post-incarceration career to advocacy, education, and service for justice-impacted individuals. Paroled on April 30, 2019, after serving 28 years of a 17-year-to-life sentence, he immediately began working to uplift others. Just a month after his release, he interned as a Substance Abuse Case Manager at The Midnight Mission in Skid Row, assisting individuals experiencing homelessness with reentry, mental health, and addiction recovery. By July 2019, he enrolled at Los Angeles City College, earning an AS degree in Human Services Addiction Studies with Cum Laude honors in June 2020. He then pursued a BS in Rehabilitation Services at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors in May 2022 while also serving as President of the Rehabilitation Counseling Association. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic earned him recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for his reentry-focused community work.

Continuing his academic journey, James enrolled in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Southern California (USC) in August 2022, where he was elected President of Unchained Scholars, a student caucus supporting formerly incarcerated graduate students. He has since become a Norman Topping Student Aid Fund Scholar, a Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee, and a Town and Gown Society of USC fellow, recognized for his exceptional public service. Professionally, he serves as Program Manager at the Center for Council, leading the Council Reentry Program, and has contributed as a consultant for organizations like the Collective Remake CO-OP and the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Project. Additionally, he co-hosts the Trauma Informed Los Angeles podcast, Our Story Matters, amplifying reentry narratives.

James’s advocacy extends to policy reform and public speaking. In 2023, he joined the Lived Experience Advisory Council (LEAC) for LA County Veterans Affairs, shaping policies for justice-impacted veterans. He has delivered keynote speeches at events like the Unchained Voices Restorative Justice Festival at UCLA and the Military Transitions Summit at the University of Chicago. In 2024, he became a certified Community Health Worker and collaborated with the LAPD Mental Evaluation Unit on PTSD crisis interventions. His work has earned him accolades, including a Certificate of Congressional Recognition, the NASW Ralph Fertig/Madeline Stoner Award, and a Certificate of Merit from LA County. In 2024, he represented the U.S. as a delegate at the United Nations International Youth Conference, discussing restorative justice. Having discharged lifetime parole on July 31, 2024, James continues to drive systemic change, proving that transformation and service can redefine lives.