We challenge laws and policies that systemically criminalize youth of color and poor youth. From the courthouse to the statehouse, we advocate for a Louisiana where children are supported in their community, not locked in jails and prisons.
We provide specialized, no-cost legal representation to children in the justice system and adults who were sentenced as children. We work with every client to address their unique needs both inside and outside the courtroom.
Often when a child is arrested, it’s a sign that another crisis is going on in their life. That was the case for 13-year-old Corey. His family was evicted while he was on probation, making it almost impossible for him to fulfill all of the court’s requirements. Luckily, he had his LCCR team on his side.
Get the latest from the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights.
We first met “Rodrigo” back in 2021. At the time, he was a 15-year-old who had been in and out of the legal system since he was a pre-teen. He struggled with school, had a volatile relationship with his mother, and had serious unmet mental health needs. As is often the case with kids who…
When we first met “Tyrell,” he was a high school senior struggling with his mental health and disconnected from school. He was arrested for stealing his uncle’s car and crashing it. Here’s how we helped him to enroll in college and improve his mental health.
“There are so many existing, false, and damaging narratives that need to be confronted,” says Cierra Chenier, who recently started in LCCR’s brand-new Strategic Storyteller role. “There are also many positive narratives about Black youth that need to be uplifted.” As the Strategic Storyteller, Cierra will be leading LCCR’s efforts to combat the harmful narratives…
