A group of young influencers were led by Kim Kardashian on a trip to a Los Angeles prison to raise awareness for criminal justice reform. The REFORM Alliance partnered with Kim Kardashian, a well-known advocate for criminal justice reform, to engage a new generation in their cause.
On Monday morning, Kim and Khloé Kardashian entered a California prison with a unique objective – to guide a group of young influencers through the American criminal justice system. "It is always an honor to visit the men and women living behind bars in our prisons," said Kim. The star of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" had previously spent several hours at the California State Prison of Los Angeles County in Lancaster with Michael Rubin and members of the REFORM Alliance. The group aims to help former convicts successfully reintegrate into society and was joined by several young social media stars.
During the visit, which began around 9:30 a.m., she expressed that listening to the stories of those trapped in the prison system is what motivates her to advocate for reform and utilize her platform to make a positive impact on lives and laws.
In a symbolic shift between generations, the social media and reality TV icon stated that the objective of the trip was to introduce a new group of Gen-Z influencers to crucial criminal justice issues and reform proposals. This group is known as the Future Shapers Advisory Council, which was founded in February in partnership with the REFORM Alliance. Members of the council include Hannah Jackson, Rondo Bonilla, sisters Charli D’Amelio and Dixie D’Amelio, Sophia Kianni, C.J. Stroud, Zander Moricz, Jack Wright, Bryce Young, Jax Ajueny, and Aidan Kohn-Murphy.
In 2018, Kardashian famously advocated for the release of Alice Johnson, who had served 21 years in prison for a nonviolent offense, by lobbying then-President Donald Trump.
"We are nurturing the upcoming generation of leaders and influencers who will join us in this battle," stated the SKIMS founder.
The prison has previously held notable inmates, including Joseph Son, the former "Austin Powers" actor who killed a cellmate while serving time for another crime, and the notorious serial killer Samuel Little.
According to the REFORM Alliance, Kardashian's team listened to the stories of various incarcerated men, discussed potential solutions for public safety and rehabilitation, and met with members of the prison's PAWS For Life program.
A prison spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Also in attendance were California state Rep. Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, rapper Lil Baby, REFORM officials Jessica Jackson and Law Erin Haney, and Heidi and Marc D’Amelio.
Kardashian has been a vocal supporter of the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill signed by Trump in 2018. She has also hosted a podcast named "Kim Kardashian's The System" and has visited jails and prisons throughout the country.
For years, she has been visiting inmates in different prisons, including former Oklahoma death row inmate Julius Jones, whom she visited about a year before Gov. Kevin Stitt granted him clemency in 2021, commuting his sentence to life without parole.
In 2020, she collaborated with Oxygen for a two-hour documentary called "Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project," in which she revealed her aspiration to become a lawyer.
After leaving the California State Prison of Los Angeles County, the group had lunch at La Papillon, a restaurant that serves steak and seafood.
In 2020, Kardashian addressed the skeptics who thought her prison reform work was just a publicity stunt. "I would say, first of all, [I'm] spending so much time away from my family and children," she told Fox News Digital at the time. "I'm going to law school, which is taking 18 hours a week from my babies to study. I think there are more cost-effective and time-effective publicity stunts that I can do. I always laugh at that one. Why would someone go to law school for a publicity stunt? That’s torture."
"I aim to draw attention to cases and stories of injustice," she explained. "As long as these cases receive attention, it brings me happiness. I just hope that it continues like this, regardless of the challenges it faces."
She added, "I believe that you have to ignore the negativity and stay concentrated on people and these issues. They're the ones who deserve attention, not the naysayers."
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