Louisiana Center for Children's Rights

We fight to keep children out of the justice system so that they can thrive in their homes and communities.

Every day, we stand with the most marginalized kids – all are impoverished, most are black, and all have been accused of a crime. We both address each child’s unique needs and tackle the systemic issues that trap them in the justice system. We go to the mat for kids because we believe there’s no such thing as a throw-away child.

We Represent 

As the juvenile public defender in New Orleans, we represent over 90% of children in the city who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. We provide each child with a holistic team – a lawyer, social worker, investigator, and youth advocate – to address both the causes and consequences of an arrest.

We also represent the majority of children in Louisiana who are facing life without parole sentences, which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional in all but the rarest cases. We know that children can and do change for the better, so we fight to ensure that they may one day have an opportunity for a second chance.

We Advocate

We advocate for local and statewide policies that reduce the number of children in the justice system and provide better alternatives to arrest and incarceration. For the kids who do enter the system, we support policies that keep them safe, protect their rights, and get them home as soon as possible.