Arch City Defenders Inc

ARCHCITY DEFENDERS (ACD) IS A HOLISTIC LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT COMBATS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY AND STATE VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. ACD'S FOUNDATION OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY AND MEDIA ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ACHIEVES AND INSPIRES JUSTICE AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION AND BEYOND.

CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION: THESE TYPES OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION/CASES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT SOMETIMES INVOLVE MULTIPLE PLAINTIFFS AND/OR DEFENDANTS IN FEDERAL COURT AND 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 OBTAINED $5M IN MONETARY SETTLEMENTS THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION CLIENTS AND CLASS MEMBERS WHOSE RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS FILED 5 NEW LAWSUITS CHALLENGING INHUMANE JAIL CONDITIONS AND LACK OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.

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... 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.

DIRECT REPRESENTATON CIVIL: ARCHCITY DEFENDERS PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS WITH MATTERS LIKE 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 LIKE WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, GUARDIANSHIPS, AND CONSERVATORSHIPS. WE INTEGRATE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ALLEVIATE THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES THAT OCCUR WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL ENTERS THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.