Legal Empowerment

We are organizing to build a post conviction movement where we have the right to challenge our convictions and the system responsible for convicting us in the first place.

We bring together formerly incarcerated people and movement lawyers to expose unjust laws, unconstitutional practices and prosecutorial misconduct that are driving thousands of us to prison and a life of collateral consequences. Our goal is both to build a formidable legal self defense to mitigate against the daily harm and a broader movement through educating the public.

Every 4th Saturday we facilitate these clinics to educate formerly incarcerated and families on how to navigate the judicial system through legal empowerment.

 Participatory defense is a powerful new model for reforming public defense and challenging mass incarceration. It amplifies the voices of the key stakeholders—people who face criminal charges, their families, and their communities—in the struggle for system reform. Participatory defense empowers these key stakeholders to transform themselves from recipients of services provided by lawyers and other professionals into change agents who force greater transparency, accountability, and fairness from the criminal legal system.

 Become a court watcher.  On a daily basis members go to the Courthouse to watch the court.  Courtwatches are a vital tool for securing professional conduct in the courtroom! Judges, lawyers and other professionals perform on their “best behavior” when faced with several citizens
 

 Every Saturday from 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m we host community meetings to help justice-involved community members with their legal cases.

 If you have an upcoming case or legal matter and would like to get help contact us here.