The Center for American Progress finds that almost half of American children have at least one parent with a criminal record. This report analyzes the long-term consequences for those children and the inter-generational transmission of disadvantage.
Individual Rights
Reentry: The Tie That Binds Civil Legal Aid Attorneys and Public Defenders
Works examines the data from major reentry initiatives to determine whether the legal needs of formerly incarcerated individuals are being met. The data suggest that reentry programs do not adequately address the legal needs of their clients. This article then examines the potential for partnership between reentry programs and existing legal service providers in an effort to close the legal services gap in reentry.
Legal Services Assessment for Trafficked Children
Researchers at the Center for the Human Rights of Children conducted a survey with professionals working in and around Cook County, IL who provided services to human trafficking survivors. They find that 85 percent of service providers report access to legal services as “critical” for child trafficking survivors.
Unaccompanied Children and the U.S. Immigration System: Challenges and Reforms
Chen and Gill take stock of the current legal protections unaccompanied children are protected by. They find that there are many challenges that stem from the lack of guaranteed legal representation for children in immigration court. They provide recommendations for policymakers.
The Needs of Native Americans with Disabilities: 2007 Needs Assessment
The Native American Disability Law Center is the sole provider of civil legal services that primarily focuses on Native Americans with disabilities in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The Center conducted a survey and needs assessment of their clients. They find that their clients face poverty, isolation and discrimination and their clients report high levels of satisfaction with their services.
The Invisible Battlefield: Veterans Facing Health-Harming Legal Needs in Civilian Life
The National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership conducted a study on the legal needs of veterans. They describe the legal needs of veterans. They then provide case studies on three MLPs, showing how MLPs are changing how we think of care for veterans.
Study Group on Immigrant Representation: The First Decade
In this transcript of a speech, Robert A. Katzmann, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Court, calls out the “deficient representation” of immigrants in the courts. He calls for competent counsel in deportation proceedings.
Race-Based Advocacy: The Role and Responsibility of LSC-Funded Programs
In this article, researchers at the Center for Law and Social Policy examine how LSC-funded programs may engage in race-based advocacy. They highlight examples of how programs have pursued race-based advocacy within the confines of LSC restrictions.
Legal Aid Research 