LCCR’s fiscal year came to a close on June 30. Here’s a quick look at what your support helped accomplish. 

We’re on the front lines every day, protecting the rights of young people impacted by the legal system: 

Standing with Kids 

LCCR attorneys defended the rights of 541 children (through 727 cases) in Orleans Parish courtrooms this past year, and we served an additional 165 children in East Baton Rouge. Meanwhile, our social workers and youth advocates connected our kids with the resources they need to grow up healthy and leave the legal system behind for good. Support from people like you helped: 

181 children enroll in school 

33 children secure new or improved special education supports (IEPs) 

41 children defend their right to an education in school disciplinary hearings 

160 children connect with jobs or job training programs 

89 children connect with mentoring programs 

110 children access care for mental health and substance use disorder 

Collectively, these efforts are helping kids like Nadia, Deondre, Amira, Rodrigo, Tyrell, and Gerard stay at home with family, remain in school without disruption, and see their prospects for success grow. 

We’re transforming the juvenile legal system both locally and statewide:

Louisiana Said NO to Amendment 3 

On March 29th, Louisiana voters soundly defeated Amendment 3. The amendment would have made it easier to send more children to adult jails and prisons, and for longer sentences. When this amendment was added to the ballot, LCCR and its allies quickly formed the Liberty & Dignity Coalition. Working together, we developed a campaign strategy—from scratch and on an incredibly short timeline—to educate the public about this issue in advance of the March election. Through social media, lawn signs, and mobilization of allies in our communities, we fought back. Our collective message was loud and clear: we care about our kids and do not want to see them funneled into our state’s adult courts, jails, and prisons.

With a higher-than-expected turnout, 66% of voters statewide and 91% in New Orleans opposed Amendment 3. This election has shown what we always knew: the people united cannot be defeated. In the wake of this victory, we will push further for a world that treats kids like kids, ends the criminalization of Black youth, and prioritizes healing over punishment. This reality is possible. This big election win proves it. Never forget that we have tremendous power to demand what we want for our future. The state legislature works for us, not the other way around. 

Defended Against Harmful Policy Rollbacks

During the 2025 legislative session, LCCR’s policy team had their work cut out for them as they defended against punitive policies that had the potential to harm Louisiana’s children. Throughout this session, LCCR prioritized three bills that represented the greatest threat to our state’s youth: 

• SB74: LCCR testified in opposition and rallied constituents against this bill which would have made it easier to prosecute all 15- and 16-year-olds charged with a felony as adults, even for nonviolent offenses. This bill died in the senate finance committee.
• HB344: LCCR testified in opposition, organized a letter writing campaign, and offered prospective changes to the bill, which would have allowed school staff to access students’ confidential juvenile arrest records. The bill was passed, but will not allow all school staff to see the full records, thus reducing the likelihood of confidentiality violations.
• HB445: LCCR testified in opposition and collaborated with other organizations working with kids to demonstrate the potential harms of this bill, which would have created an online database for potential employers and state agencies to see juvenile records. This bill was passed, but with significant guardrails as to who can access the records, and with strong penalties in court if these records are not kept confidential.

While this legislative session is over, our work isn’t done. Instead of just defending against harmful policies, we will research and write new bills to further our legislative goals, namely: advocating for safer conditions of confinement; fostering strategic partnerships to help young people thrive in their communities; ensuring children have the right to education; and keeping kids at home and in school, not in courts or jails. Our team will proactively work at the state and local level to keep kids out of the justice system and protect the rights of all of Louisiana’s children. 

Launched the #ItTakesAVillageNOLA Narrative Change Campaign 

In April 2025, LCCR launched its first-ever narrative change campaign, #ItTakesAVillageNOLA. The campaign’s focus calls upon New Orleanians to take responsibility for their youth. #ItTakesAVillageNOLA is led by LCCR’s new Strategic Storyteller, Cierra Chenier, as part of a wider effort to combat the harmful narratives surrounding Black youth and promote alternative, positive narratives that reassert the humanity of young people in our city. In response to the negative stereotypes youth have been labeled with post-Katrina, the concept of ‘The Village’ extends accountability from solely the kids to also include those responsible for them–all of us.

The campaign intentionally aligns with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina while elevating the next generation as the future of New Orleans. Whereas in the aftermath of Katrina, the city of New Orleans was deemed worthy of investment and rebuilding, #ItTakesAVillageNOLA argues that, two decades later, our city’s youth are just as worthy of the same grace, healing, and investment. Through storytelling, marketing, social advocacy, and policy engagement, #ItTakesAVillageNOLA is creating a new narrative for the next generation: one that humanizes young people for who they are and emphasizes their capability to grow from challenges and learn from mistakes with the proper community support.

#ItTakesAVillageNOLA invites all to join The Village by learning more at www.ittakesavillagenola.org, signing the community pledge, and becoming a partner. 

It’s been another big year for Louisiana’s kids. Your support made it all possible. Thank you! 

Fiscal Year 2025 Financials: 

LCCR’s Independent Audit Report and IRS Form 990 will be posted here as soon as they become available (typically in December).

Click here to see what your support made possible in FY 2024