Our Programs

Our programs focus on legal advocacy and representation, juvenile delinquency prevention, and client and community restoration.

Legal Advocacy & Representation

Our attorneys advocate for Evanston youth in juvenile delinquency and adult criminal court proceedings, school disciplinary and expulsion hearings, and before various state code agencies.   Throughout the course of the representation, each client receives social work assistance,  including case management, crisis intervention, direct services, outreach assistance, referrals, and individual, group, and family counseling.    

Juvenile Delinquency Prevention

The Evanston Defender provides a number of programs to engage youth and provide positive alternatives to delinquent behavior.  These programs include:

• Your Rights, Your Community, Your Responsibilities (RCR), a 10 week group session which teaches young people their rights and responsibilities under the law and provide tools to refrain from involvement in the justice system.  Topics include Navigating Police Encounters, Navigating the Juvenile Court System, Citizenship, Anger Management and Conflict Resolution.
  

• Parent Support Group, a monthly group for Evanston parents which meets to discuss strategies to manage the adolescent years.  This group meets at Evanston Township High School, on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in Room N112.
  

• Trainings and workshops for schools, churches and other Evanston  social service agencies on a variety of law-related education and competency development topics.
  

Client & Community Restoration

We also assist clients with restoring themselves and their communities.  Involvement in disciplinary proceedings, whether in juvenile court or in school settings, often severely limits future educational, housing and employment opportunities.  Therefore, we provide criminal record expungement services to increase future opportunities for clients who qualify.

• Expungement Help Desk, located at the Second Municipal District Circuit Court of Cook County (Skokie) on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.  Lawyers provide free assistance on expunging and/or sealing criminal records.  Please bring your RAP sheets and arrest records.  Clients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
  

Additionally, our staff is involved in furthering restorative justice practices, including Circle Mediation and Peer Jury, at Evanston schools.  This effort, in collaboration with various agencies, helps the youth of Evanston understand the impact of their behavior on both their own lives and the community at large.