Behind The Shield

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell is the founder of the Skid Row Running Club which is featured in the documentary Skid Row Marathon. Founded in 2012, The Skid Row Running Club provides a running program for the Skid Row Community of Los Angeles and involves the larger community in supporting its members in overcoming alcohol/drug abuse and achieving positive life goals.It all began when a young man he had previously sentenced to prison, Roderick Brown, contacted him through the Midnight Mission. “For some reason he decided he liked the way I treated him, even though I sent him to prison,” Mitchell says. “He looked me up and introduced me to The Mission.”As soon as Mitchell got there, he decided the best way to reach the people was through running. “There are so many little things that emanate from this very basic idea of just running,” he says.Mitchell had been running for about 15 years when he started the club. He ran his first race because he was asked by his boss at the District Attorney’s