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Who We Are

JRS lawyers are the public defenders at Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, representing young people charged delinquency and Families in Need of Services (FINS) cases.

But our work goes well beyond the courtroom. JRS is founded on the belief that the best way to help our clients and their families is to solve the root problems that can drive youth into the juvenile justice system.

JRS practices holistic, team-based advocacy. This means that each of our clients is represented by a team of JRS employees - a youth advocate, a social worker, an education specialist, an attorney, and an investigator. The team works with young people and their families to help resolve the problems that may have led to arrest.

We use the "vertical" representation model: each client is continuously represented by the same defense team both throughout every case and also every time that the client reappears in the juvenile justice system. JRS represents its clients until they are out of the juvenile system for good - a case does not end until the client is entirely free of court supervision.

Our representation services include:

• Trial and pre-trial representation;
• Investigating the facts and circumstances of every case;
• Planning for dispositions - also known as sentencing;
• Appeals;
• Social Work;
• Referrals to community services such as educational support, mental health services, employment referrals, transportation assistance and parenting classes;
• Post-disposition - also known as post-sentencing - representation.

Through community engagement, advocacy, and litigation, JRS also works for systemic reform of the juvenile justice system and the laws that affect our clients in court and at school.