Child Justice Inc

THE MISSION OF CHILD JUSTICE, INC. IS TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR PROTECTIVE PARENTS, AND TO PROMOTE CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. CHILD JUSTICE PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBLE PROTECTIVE PARENTS IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN ALLEGED ABUSERS ARE FIGHTING FOR UNSAFE ACCESS OR SOLE LEGAL OR PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

INCORPORATED IN SEPTEMBER 2012 AND OPENING FOR BUSINESS IN APRIL 2013, CHILD JUSTICE WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN ALLEGED ABUSERS ARE FIGHTING FOR UNSAFE ACCESS OR SOLE LEGAL OR PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES. CHILD JUSTICE'S VISION IS A FUTURE IN WHICH EVERY CHILD'S RIGHT TO SAFETY, DIGNITY AND SELF-HOOD IS HONORED AND PROTECTED. CHILD JUSTICE PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO NON-OFFENDING PARENTS IN CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS CASES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AFTER EXPOSURE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE, PHYSICAL/SEXUAL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS OR NEGLECT. LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY CHILD JUSTICE ATTORNEYS AND FROM THE GENEROSITY OF NUMEROUS PARTNERS FROM CORPORATE LAW FIRMS AND PRIVATE LAW PRACTICES. IN THE FIVE YEARS OF OUR WORK SO FAR WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED OUR CAPACITY FOR DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF NON-OFFENDING PROTECTIVE PARENTS (USUALLY MOTHERS) AND DEVELOPED SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION PRACTICES FOR HANDLING THESE LONG, CHALLENGING, AND HEARTBREAKING CASES. WE ALSO ACCOMPANY OUR CLIENTS TO COURT: THIS SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR FEELING HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD. IN MARYLAND, 49% OF LEGAL CASES ARE FAMILY LAW DISPUTES AND 89% OF THE PARTIES ARE UNREPRESENTED. UNREPRESENTED PARTIES ARE UNLIKELY TO DO WELL IN COURT, ESPECIALLY IN LONG, COMPLEX CASES WHICH ADDRESS A PARENT'S REASONABLE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN DUE TO SUSPECTED, INDICATED OR CRIMINALLY ADJUDICATED CHILD ABUSER AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN EVERY ONE OF OUR CASES, WE SEE THE SAME SCENARIO: CIVIL PROTECTION ORDERS AND EVEN CONVICTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE OFTEN NOT ENOUGH FOR JUDGES TO VIEW THE CHILD'S SAFETY AS THE PARAMOUNT GOAL IN CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS ORDERS AND ORDER LONG-TERM PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR NON-ABUSIVE PARENTS WHO MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. EDUCATING THE COURTS IS PART OF OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION - AND THIS INCLUDES APPEALS AS WELL AS SUBMITTED AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS IN SELECTED APPELLATE CASES. MOST OF OUR CASES ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX AND LENGTHY, OFTEN LASTING SEVERAL YEARS WITH MANY COURT DATES, DEPOSITIONS, AS WELL AS OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

INCORPORATED IN SEPTEMBER 2012 AND OPENING FOR BUSINESS IN APRIL 2013, CHILD JUSTICE WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN ALLEGED ABUSERS ARE FIGHTING FOR UNSAFE ACCESS OR SOLE LEGAL OR PHYSICAL CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES. CHILD JUSTICE'S VISION IS A FUTURE IN WHICH EVERY CHILD'S RIGHT TO SAFETY, DIGNITY AND SELF-HOOD IS HONORED AND PROTECTED. CHILD JUSTICE PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO NON-OFFENDING PARENTS IN CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS CASES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AFTER EXPOSURE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE, PHYSICAL/SEXUAL ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS OR NEGLECT. LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY CHILD JUSTICE ATTORNEYS AND FROM THE GENEROSITY OF NUMEROUS PARTNERS FROM CORPORATE LAW FIRMS AND PRIVATE LAW PRACTICES. IN THE FIVE YEARS OF OUR WORK SO FAR WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED OUR CAPACITY FOR DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF NON-OFFENDING PROTECTIVE PARENTS (USUALLY MOTHERS) AND DEVELOPED SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION PRACTICES FOR HANDLING THESE LONG, CHALLENGING, AND HEARTBREAKING CASES. WE ALSO ACCOMPANY OUR CLIENTS TO COURT: THIS SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR FEELING HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD. IN MARYLAND, 49% OF LEGAL CASES ARE FAMILY LAW DISPUTES AND 89% OF THE PARTIES ARE UNREPRESENTED. UNREPRESENTED PARTIES ARE UNLIKELY TO DO WELL IN COURT, ESPECIALLY IN LONG, COMPLEX CASES WHICH ADDRESS A PARENT'S REASONABLE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN DUE TO SUSPECTED, INDICATED OR CRIMINALLY ADJUDICATED CHILD ABUSER AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN EVERY ONE OF OUR CASES, WE SEE THE SAME SCENARIO: CIVIL PROTECTION ORDERS AND EVEN CONVICTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE OFTEN NOT ENOUGH FOR JUDGES TO VIEW THE CHILD'S SAFETY AS THE PARAMOUNT GOAL IN CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS ORDERS AND ORDER LONG-TERM PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR NON-ABUSIVE PARENTS WHO MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. EDUCATING THE COURTS IS PART OF OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION - AND THIS INCLUDES APPEALS AS WELL AS SUBMITTED AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS IN SELECTED APPELLATE CASES. MOST OF OUR CASES ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX AND LENGTHY, OFTEN LASTING SEVERAL YEARS WITH MANY COURT DATES, DEPOSITIONS, AS WELL AS OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.