About
In the aftermath of the civil rights movement, it became increasingly clear that America's justice system continued to fall short of equal treatment for poor people, especially African-Americans and American Indians. NJC founders sought to assure the rights of St. Paul citizens in these groups who faced criminal charges and were unable to afford private defense attorneys. The public defenders charged with representing them were overworked, and often unable to overcome cultural barriers and build a trust relationship with defendants.
"When the organization started, there was a need across the country to provide legal representation to people of color, indigents; more importantly, it came about because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination and the way law enforcement agencies across the country treated low income people and people of color," states co-founder and long time board member Jim Robinson.
Utilizing start-up money from Model Cities, NJC quickly garnered a reputation for providing effective legal services for those most at-risk in the criminal justice system.
During the 1980s, the number immigrants and refugees in the East Metro area expanded greatly. This growth was especially evident among Southeast Asians and Hispanics. Many of these persons came from societies with legal practices very different from those they encountered in the U.S. The agency responded by developing an additional focus on education. This was designed to help Southeast Asians and Hispanics understand the American legal system, to help minimize legal difficulties and insure fair treatment. During the 90s, in response to significant Somali, services were extended to this group.
Please see our statistics page for more information about the work we do.
