The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights is a nonprofit law center that defends the right of every child in Louisiana’s juvenile justice system to fairness, dignity, and opportunity.

We are policy analysts, law reform advocates, and community partners who design and build the supports and opportunities – from safe schools to strong service provider networks – that young people need to thrive in their own homes and communities. 

When children fall into the juvenile justice system, we are their champions – their lawyers, social workers, investigators, education advocates, and case managers.  Our Children’s Defense Team – the juvenile public defender in New Orleans and one of the foremost juvenile defenders in the country – uses an innovative model of holistic, team-based, cross-disciplinary advocacy to win both legal and life success for vulnerable youth in nearly 1,000 cases each year. 

Our policy reform and impact litigation arm is the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL), with 17 years of experience fighting for a juvenile justice system that is fair, compassionate, and supportive of positive youth development.