The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is the only professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of African-Americans as prosecutors. Founded in 1983, the Association’s membership is comprised of over 800 prosecutors nationwide. In addition to prosecutors, the association’s membership includes law students, former prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel. The NBPA is emerging as the international association of Black law enforcement professionals with a reputation for providing education and leadership in the legal profession through its intensive training sessions and multi-disciplined networking.

In 2010, several Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorneys were inspired to start a local chapter of the NBPA after attending its national convention in San Francisco, and thus founded the Black Prosecutors Association of Los Angeles (BPLA) on September 12, 2010.

BPLA’s members include all prosecutors within the Southern California area; including the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Kern and Riverside.

Among our objectives are:

• To ensure that all who enter the criminal justice system are treated fairly and equitably, and that all prosecutions are conducted with integrity and transparency;

• To serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary communication, innovative training, professional development and camaraderie among African Americans in law enforcement;

• To provide an open forum to address the needs and concerns of the African American community, and to educate the community regarding the criminal justice system;

• To encourage, offer assistance and serve as mentors to high school students, undergraduate students, and law students in an effort to ensure they become successful, productive, and responsible citizens of our community.

• To honor the history of African-Americans in the profession of criminal prosecution.