Arch City Defenders Inc

HOLISTIC LEGAL ADVOCACY COMBATING CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY & STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE

ADVOCACY:THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ELEVATING THE VOICES OF CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION BY SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WHILE EXPOSING INJUSTICE AND MISREPRESENTATION. ADVOCACY INVOLVES HOSTING EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY, CREATING HANDOUTS AND REFERENCES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS CO-HOSTING A PODCAST THAT EXPLORES THE ISSUES FACING THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WORKING TO TRANSFORM THEM. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO COLLABORATES WITH ORGANIZERS, ACTIVISTS, AND OTHER ADVOCACY PARTNERS ON LOCAL EVENTS, INITIATIVES, AND CAMPAIGNS TO BUILD COMMUNITY POWER IN FURTHERANCE OF A COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN DIGNITY, AND LIBERATION IN ST. LOUIS AND BEYOND...(SEE SCHEDULE O)ARCHCITY DEFENDERS IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO SHUT DOWN THE ST. LOUIS CITY'S MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION (THE "WORKHOUSE") THAT CONDEMNS HUNDREDS OF PRESUMPTIVELY INNOCENT PEOPLE TO SUFFER IN UNSPEAKABLY HELLISH AND INHUMANE CONDITIONS.

CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION:THESE TYPES OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION/CASES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON LARGER CASES WITH MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS IN FEDERAL COURT AND TYPES OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. THE ORGANIZATION IS ENGAGING IN SYSTEMIC CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION CHALLENGING POLICE MISCONDUCT, DEBTORS' PRISONS, CASH BAIL, INHUMANE JAIL CONDITIONS, INADEQUATE SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS, AND VIOLATIONS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, DUE PROCESS, AND EQUAL PROTECTION. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS FILED 1 CIVIL RIGHTS CLASS ACTION IN BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS AGAINST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THIS FISCAL YEAR.

DIRECT REPRESENTATION:ARCHCITY DEFENDERS PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL TO MUNICIPAL. THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO CLIENTS FOR CIVIL CASES CONSIST OF LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES AND EVICTION DEFENSE, CONSUMER PROTECTION CASES, DIVORCE, CUSTODY AND VISITATION RIGHTS, PUBLIC BENEFITS APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS, IMMIGRATION BOND PROCEEDINGS AND ASSISTANCE WITH ELDER LAW ISSUES. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS ALSO ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH BOTH MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY-LEVEL CRIMINAL CASES AND SEEKS TO SUPPLEMENT AND NOT DUPLICATE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MISSOURI STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM...(SEE SCHEDULE O)IN THE PAST YEAR, STAFF ATTORNEYS MADE OVER 370 COURT APPEARANCES IN MUNICIPAL COURT. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS REPRESENTED INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS IN 300 NEW MUNICIPAL, CRIMINAL, LANDLORD-TENANT, CONSUMER, PROBATE, AND FAMILY MATTERS. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS REMOVED LEGAL BARRIERS TO ADEQUATE HOUSING AND ASSISTED HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATE THE HOUSING APPLICATION PROCESS TO SECURE SAFE, HABITABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS REPRESENTED 72 HOUSEHOLDS IN EVICTION MATTERS AND TO PREVENT ILLEGAL LOCKOUTS. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS ALSO HELPED 160 INDIVIDUALS STAY HOUSED OR GET INTO HOUSING AS PART OF ITS HOLISTIC LEGAL SERVICES MODEL.