Direct Representation

Through our Direct Representation program, SJP defends clients' civil rights as guaranteed by federal disability law, increasing access to legal counsel, appropriate educational services, and meaningful reentry. SJP attorneys do this by advocating with students at special education meetings, arguing for better court outcomes in hearings, filing lawsuits, identifying community resources, and directly connecting clients with targeted support services necessary for reentry.

Through this process, young people become informed of their rights and empowered with the tools necessary to later advocate without assistance from attorneys. SJP’s attorneys also partner with defense attorneys to seek alternatives to incarceration for their clients. This work includes meeting with the defense attorneys, submitting sentencing memoranda with education community reentry plans, and seeking sentences under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA).

Educational Barriers for Young People in DC’s Youth and Adult Detention Facilities