Criminal Justice & Foster Care Reform Advocate; Founder & Executive Director of Better Days

Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Jarrett Harper Biography

Jarrett Harper is a criminal justice and foster care reform advocate known for his work in youth justice and policy change. Harper is the founder and executive director of Better Days, an organization focused on ending life sentences for children, developing rehabilitation resources for individuals reentering society, and addressing the foster care-to-prison pipeline. His expertise includes teaching cognitive behavior therapy, trauma awareness, and healing dialogue, with certification from The Catalyst Foundation, which emphasizes restorative justice and building a healing society.

A survivor of the Los Angeles County foster care system, Harper spent 20 years incarcerated. At age 16, he took the life of his abuser to protect himself and his younger brother, and was later sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 10 years. During his incarceration, Harper facilitated self-improvement programs for other incarcerated individuals. His sentence was eventually commuted, and he was released from prison.

Harper has since focused on advocacy and legislative reform, founding Better Days to support foster youth through mentoring, workforce development, and policy initiatives. He contributed to the passage of legislation in California and Maryland aimed at protecting children who are survivors of sex trafficking and abuse. Harper's advocacy has been featured in campaigns with Represent Justice, and he has testified before Congress and state legislatures on children's rights. In collaboration with John Legend, Harper helped raise significant funds for organizations working to end the foster care-to-prison pipeline, including $750,000 for Free America.

Harper has advanced criminal justice reform initiatives with Google and YouTube, and partnered with the Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth to launch "Project Witness," a virtual reality campaign highlighting the experiences of children in adult prisons. He also served as an ambassador for Represent Justice's "Just Mercy" campaign and volunteers with Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, mentoring foster youth involved in the criminal legal system. Harper has delivered keynote addresses for organizations such as Verizon, Google, YouTube, University of Southern California, and Princeton, and his work has been featured in Washington Post Live and The Orange County Register. Harper's keynotes address topics including decision-making, redemption, mentorship, community healing, and hope, engaging leaders, educators, youth, and policymakers in criminal justice and foster care reform.

BOOK Jarrett Harper

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/23/2026.

Jarrett Harper Speaking Topics

  • Finding Forgiveness and Hope

    Jarrett shares his story from foster care to mass incarceration to criminal justice reform advocate as an example of how people who commit serious crimes are not only deserving of our compassion, but also a second chance to share the tremendous, life-affirming gifts they bring to the world. While society gave up on Jarrett, he never gave up on himself, and he used his gifts to help others in prison, never believing it would change his own circumstances. In his transformational remarks, Jarrett gives audiences a new way to look at the criminal justice system, most significantly the foster-care-to-prison pipeline, as well as an alternative lens to see their own lives. Even when the person we most need to forgive is ourselves, Jarrett echoes Just Mercy author Bryan Stephenson and powerfully reminds us that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done. Jarrett's power of persuasion is tied to the way in which he encourages us to take absolute responsibility for our actions and our mindset, while at the same time walking righteously into our new beginning.

Jarrett Harper Videos

Jarrett Harper - Represent Justice Ambassador

Jarrett Harper - Represent Justice Ambassador

Jarrett Harper is an incredible storyteller, captivating his audiences with his honesty and truth.

No Child Is Born Bad: Jarrett Harper

No Child Is Born Bad: Jarrett Harper

About 25 years ago, criminologist John DiIulio published an article called “The Coming of the Super-Predators” in the Weekly Standard, warning of...

Common, Scott Budnick and Jarrett Harper on prison reform

Common, Scott Budnick and Jarrett Harper on prison reform

Prisons have become hotbeds for COVID-19 with over 50,000 cases recorded since June 30. Cramped conditions and limited access to soap and masks, as...

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  • What topics does Jarrett Harper speak about?

  • Where does Jarrett Harper travel from?

    Jarrett Harper generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Jarrett Harper is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Finding Forgiveness and Hope. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jarrett Harper for your event is available upon request. Jarrett Harper generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Naila Amin, Casey Hammer, Matt Bennett, Isha W. Metzger, Ph.D. and Ryan Stream. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jarrett Harper for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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