Legal Rights Center

See schedule o.through our community defense program we provide free criminal defense to children and adults utilizing a model of providing holistic, client-centered and community-driven representation to clients who otherwise could not afford an attorney. We prioritize clients and cases involving injustices, focused on challenging harmful systemic processes or practices, or in which the client may benefit from supportive community resources. We also utilize a team representation model, with each client working with both an attorney and a community advocate. Our community advocates are from the african american, native american and latinx communities, providing culturally specific supports and resource referrals. In 2023, lrc provided criminal defense representation on 182 juvenile and adult cases, although our weighted defense caseload (based on seriousness of the cases handled) was 273. 44% of cases with representation by lrc attorneys were acquitted, dismissed, diverted or discharged. An additional 5% of cases with lrc representation resulted in a stay of adjudication, for a total of 49% of lrc cases with no convictions in 2023. Our Legal team also supported 159 people through the expungement process. Additionally, our community advocates serve as a resource for individuals for whom we are not able to provide full representation. In 2023, our community advocates served as a resource for 1366 individuals, referring to other pro bono Legal services, government agencies for Legal problem solving, and to community programs.our restorative justice program includes three core areas of work: school-based restorative services facilitation (i.e. Family group conferences, circles to repair harm, restorative dialogue, etc. ), cohort-based restorative practices training, coaching, and mentoring with educators and school communities, and expanding access to restorative at decision points leading to and within the juvenile justice system, including schools, police, prosecutors and courts. In 2023, our restorative justice program facilitated 79 school-based restorative interventions, each with individually determined benchmarks for success. Of the cases supported by our team, 87% met benchmarks for success. We delivered 279 hours training, coaching, and mentoring sessions, and worked in a combined 85 schools in the twin cities metro area.our community strategy team integrates the work of the organization related to community education and advocacy. Comprised of community advocates, organizers, and educators, this team's work includes policy advocacy at the city, state and county level, community Legal education, and outreach/engagement so that community members are aware of lrc's services. In 2023, lrc engaged in 43 community Legal education presentations, reaching 2002 community members. We employed 5 youth as community Legal educators who helped create videos and a website (knowyourrightsmn.org) with information on a number of community education topics. We also hosted a two-week art exhibit with our end youth prisons mn campaign which organizes with young people and uses storytelling & the arts to advocate for a Minnesota without youth incarceration. We employed 15 youth as campaign fellows over the course of the year who participated in campaign efforts and the mn coalition for youth justice.