Mission and Vision
Vision Statement:
The Louisiana Justice Coalition seeks to ensure access to qualified, appropriately resourced counsel for all indigent persons accused of crime in order to prevent wrongful convictions, over-incarceration and excessive sentencing.
The achievement of high-functioning public defense in Louisiana will improve the performance of the entire criminal justice system, leverage state resources more efficiently, and strengthen communities throughout the state.
Mission:
The Louisiana Justice Coalition protects the constitutional right to counsel and ensures the respect and dignity of each practitioner and every client by improving the delivery of public defense services and creating a receptive climate for positive change.
What we do:
The Louisiana Justice Coalition (LJC) achieves its objectives by:
- Increasing awareness of the importance of the public defense function, and the continued needs of public defenders and their clients through state-wide educational outreach and programming to diverse audiences
- Elevating the frequency and quality of media coverage of the public defense system through vigilant monitoring, proactive reporter education, and an aggressive media campaign
- Conducting relevant research of public defense issues to inform policy discussions and support advocacy efforts
- Providing technical support for innovative projects within public defender offices to enhance the quality of representation for adult and juvenile clients
- Empowering clients, their families and their communities to participate in the development of public policy to guarantee all citizens equal access to fair treatment in the criminal justice system
- Facilitating effective, collaborative relationships between public defenders, service providers, advocates and clients to maximize the impact of scarce resources and strengthen communities