JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF LOUISIANA

JAC helps people recover from the criminal justice system, reduce mass incarceration, and increase public safety through a combination of direct representation, pro bono attorney coordination and training, workshops, advocacy, education, and publications. The lack of access for incarcerated populations to appropriate services in the post-conviction phase of the criminal justice system and the lack of support for a positive reentry of people previously incarcerated are contrary to notions of fairness and justice. To these ends, JAC has three goals for supporting a just community. JUSTICE: Our first and immediate goal is to promote access to justice through legal services and related community education. JAC facilitates a collaborative lawyering program in which teams of attorneys who practice in different fields come together to provide legal services holistically to individuals previously incarcerated. This service increases the likelihood of successful reentry and decreases recidivism rates. JAC’s legal services also ensure that expungements are available on a regular basis to those who have had contact with the criminal justice system. Throughout the year, JAC offers workshops, classes, and events for the general public, attorneys, stakeholders, policy makers, and the media on various criminal justice issues, including expungement, reentry, indigent defense funding and more. ACCOUNTABILITY: Our second intermediate goal is to promote systemic change that will positively impact the lives of those previously incarcerated. JAC collects data to use for systemic reform through litigation, legislation, and policy advocacy. By tracking trends and highlighting deficiencies, we can provide the first step toward lasting change. THE CENTER: Our third goal is to create a space for attorneys to come together to holistically serve individuals previously incarcerated. Providing individual attorneys with the opportunity to share resources allows them to do difficult legal work that is in great demand. Through our approach, attorneys share intellectual resources, develop best practices and strategize avenues for meaningful representation.