Programs

The Neighborhood Justice Center provides comprehensive programming in the areas of criminal defense, outreach, crime prevention, and community education. The intent is to assist low-income defendants, largely persons of color, in receiving fair treatment in the legal system and equitable outcomes, while also helping to prevent future legal problems. Programs include:

Criminal Defense - Services assist clients in dealing with charges including felonies, appeals, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and probation violations. Staff look beyond the immediate legal problems to serve the whole person, helping to arrange such services as chemical dependency or mental health treatment.

Somali Legal Education and Assistance Project - Bilingual, bicultural Somali staff assist members of the refugee Somali community to understand the law, and receive representation in the criminal justice system.

Hispanic Community Legal Services - Bilingual, bicultural services are provided to Latinos, centered on the Westside of St. Paul.

Southeast Asian Legal Survival Skills - Rapid growth in Southeast Asian refugee communities has led to creation of specialized legal representation and education programming.

Members of the Twin Cities Somali Community meet with NJC staff to discuss legal issues facing the community.

Juvenile Services - Legal representation in delinquency proceedings is provided. Changes in laws which facilitate certification of juveniles as adults has added impetus and challenge to this program area.

Community Education - This growing program area seeks to education client groups about both laws and the justice system, with the goal of preventing future offenses and helping individuals to know and understand their legal rights. Click here for an NJC special report on the community education and legal needs of young Hispanics and Southeast Asians.