The Criminal Justice Reform program provides an array of free legal services, including legal advice, referral, and in some cases representation (generally only to low-income immigrant parents with youth involved in the juvenile justice system). Our goal is ensure immigrant parents, particularly limited English proficient (LEP) families, language access and understanding in the juvenile justice process.  The program provides representation to low-income immigrant families with youth in the juvenile system, youth who are experiencing harassment or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or other protected categories in the K-12 public school system, and individuals who are the victims of race-motivated police misconduct.

Direct Legal Services

We provide assistance to low-income immigrant parents and youth in filing complaints and seeking legal solutions to race-based bias or discrimination in school.

Challenging Language and Cultural Barriers

In the juvenile justice system, the Project provides direct legal representation and know-your-rights education to immigrant families who have youth in the juvenile justice system. The Project is staffed by an attorney who assists limited English proficient (LEP) parents or guardians with navigating through language and culture barriers in the juvenile system. The goal is to help immigrant parents or guardians to become more involved in their child’s case and to understand what is happening in their child’s case.

What kinds of cases should I refer?

• Limited English Proficient parents/guardians with youth in the juvenile justice system,
• Pre-adjudication cases (preferably at detention or pretrial hearing stage)

What kinds of services will the parent/guardian receive?

Services include, but are not limited to:

• Educating parents or guardians about the juvenile justice process, including the purpose of each hearing and the importance of parental involvement in assisting the child to rehabilitate, and
• Providing advice to attorneys, probation officers, and case managers about referrals to culturally-competent education and mental health services.

Challenging Bias-Related Harassment in Public K-12 Schools

The Criminal Justice Reform program also assists youth of color and their parents/guardians with filing state and federal administrative complaints regarding bias-related violence and harassment in public schools (e.g., discrimination based on race, nationality, language, etc).

Litigation/Legal Representation

The Criminal Justice Reform program also engages in litigation in select criminal justice and K-12 education cases.

Click here to make a Referral

Important Resources

Sealing Your Juvenile Record (San Francisco) – Instructions and application to seal juvenile records in San Francisco from the Public Defender’s Office.

Sealing Your Juvenile Record (Alameda County) – Instructions and application to seal juvenile records from Alameda Juvenile Probation Department.