Access to Justice

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations and institutions to shift to operating remotely, disparities driven by the digital divide became a shared problem across major cross-sector systems important to a community’s well-being. The Health, Housing, and Justice Alliance sought to eliminate inequities of fully virtual legal, healthcare, and social services through the creation of pop-up navigation centers and court hubs throughout Newark, New Jersey.

On the occasion of its twentieth anniversary, an introduction to the origins, programming, and community impact of Neighbors in Action, formerly known as the Crown Heights Community Mediation Center. Neighbors in Action works to make the central Brooklyn neighborhoods of Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant safer and healthier for all.

The right to an attorney in a criminal case is a cornerstone of our justice system, yet in as many as 42 states today, people who can’t afford an attorney can still find themselves paying for that Constitutional guarantee. Based on two nationwide surveys of public defense attorneys and court leadership, our new report takes a closer look at how fees for court-appointed attorneys are perceived and experienced by attorneys across the country. We explore what courts and practitioners can do to make sure everyone gets access to the representation they deserve.