Peace and Justice Law Center
PROGRAMS
Policy and Impact Litigation
The PJLC engages in policy technical assistance and impact litigation to take what we learn from our direct services and use that knowledge to make systemic change at the state level. Our technical assistance includes legal advice to legislators on criminal justice issues and on the drafting of specific legislation, as well as advising other advocates and government agencies on criminal justice policies. Our impact litigation includes filing lawsuits against government agencies and also defending people in court who are wrongly targeted for gang suppression by prosecutors.
Outcomes achieved include rewriting the state's anti-gang law, ending gang injunctions in Orange County, and supporting dozens of individuals transitioning out of gang activity.
Decriminalizing Neighborhoods Network
The PJLC is the anchoring organization in the Decriminalizing Neighborhoods Network, a national network of organizations and professionals working to end gang suppression tactics that are both discriminatory and ineffective.
Our primary outcome achieved was a national 3-day conference and the formation of the network. Outcomes we are working towards now are a membership of at least 50 organizations, a support program for former gang members who wish to become recognized as gang experts in court, and a media campaign to tell the stories of people who have been harmed by law enforcement's unconstitutional and ineffective gang suppression tactics.
Direct Legal Services (CalVIP)
We provide comprehensive legal services to people who are leaving gangs or are working to build peace agreements between Orange County gangs. By redirecting the efforts of people involved in gangs into urban peace work, and by providing them with the legal support they need to function legally in society, we work to reduce violence in Orange County.
This is our newest program that is just launching. We expect to serve at least 18 clients in targeted neighborhoods in the program's first year who will desist from criminal activity and whose neighborhoods will participate in a gang truce.