Check Out Jose Lopez-Nava’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Lopez-Nava.

Hi Jose, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

First and foremost, I am a DACA recipient, a Dreamer, a Mexicano, and a Denver native despite not being born in this country. I came to this country when I was 2 years old but I grew up in Northeast Denver. I grew up with many different groups of friends, some were athletes, some were the smartest in the class and some were “traviesos”.

At school, I wanted to be cool and was seen with the “traviesos” a lot more than the other groups. “People like you will dig our holes in this world,” said by school administrator. At the time I was in high school, I found out I was a noncitizen, which changed my perspective on life. I worked hard to graduate high school despite being behind on credits. I completed my undergrad and master’s degree and became the first in my family to do so.

For the last eight years, I had the pleasure of serving my community as a probation officer and client manager. I became the first DACA recipient to be sworn in as a probation officer in Denver and Lakewood. During the pandemic, I helped one of my best friends create policies and procedures for her nonprofit and became the Chairman of the board. The nonprofit provides transitional services for individuals being released from prison/jail and or have system involvement.

I should mention after grad school, I had an opportunity to serve the greater Sacramento County communities as a clinical program manager as well. As you can see my entire career has been in public service. I like to see it as trying to address the systemic racism in our schools and the justice system.

Spanish-speaking Latinos and Latinas have their legal status questioned when they appear before a judge and are told that their legal status “may be at risk if they enter a plea”. The questions and comments are directed to them without confirmation if they have legal status or not.

Being a DACA recipient comes with many barriers, but to me the biggest barrier has been, not being able to fully call out the racist and biased procedures that occur in the justice system and schools I worked with without the fear of repercussions from my employers. While I can’t change certain processes right now, my presence in these roles matters to individuals who look like me, those who only speak our native language, and those who share the same legal status as me.

I still find ways to have the tough and uncomfortable conversations with those in charge and advocate for fair and just recommendations. Today, I am the Diversion Manager for the District Attorney’s Office in Larimer County and I have been leading a great team who share the same mission to serve our community. I am happy to continue my advocacy and support for our Latino communities in Northern Colorado.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

My journey hasn’t been all that smooth, from the lack of support from the education system, to being racially profiled, and uncertainties of being a noncitizen.

After the 2016 presidential elections, my journey became even more difficult as I and other Latinos whether documented or not were targets of racial profiling. This was due to the anti-immigration rhetoric of the President at that time. This also impacted the youth and families I worked with as they were fearful of being detained or receiving unjust sentences due to their background.

The trust between the justice system, my community, and others alike was at a low. I would say it is still at a low, because of the current anti-immigrant laws that are being put in place in certain states across the country. Even if Colorado is not one of those states, the fear is still there.

Being a DACA recipient has made my road bearable. It provided me opportunities to work in the fields that I am passionate about.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I’ve been working in the criminal justice system for many years now, and I specialize in working with youth on probation, parole, and diversion. Advocacy and fairness are what I believe to be known for.

Whether I am working with Latinos or non-Latinos. I can say with confidence that I provide strong advocacy for youth and families. As the Diversion Manager in Larimer County I oversee the entire Diversion program, from supervising Diversion Specialist to providing guidance and recommendations to the DA’s on Diversion matters.

I am most proud of the advocacy that I was able to provide the Latino youth and families during my time as a probation officer. I was not just someone who looked like them, but I understood their cultural needs and barriers. I believe my experiences as a DACA recipient set me apart from others as I faced double the stigma and barriers as a Mexican and a noncitizen Mexican in this country. It molded me into a strong advocate for the youth and families in our systems.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?

In my current role in Larimer County, people can support me by learning more about our Diversion program and see the benefits of the program for first-time offenders.

Diverting cases away from the traditional court system is the first step in reducing the stigma on system-involved youth, especially youth of color. Regarding collaborations, we are actively looking to partner with Spanish-speaking providers in northern Colorado, which includes SMOB Spanish-speaking providers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.larimer.gov/spotlights/2023/08/02/district-attorney-names-new-diversion-manager
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/josé-lópez-nava-mpa-95730a221

Image Credits
Lakewood Municipal Court