Partners for Justice (PFJ) was founded to transform public defense locally and across the United States to ensure that race and wealth no longer determine legal outcomes. This means ensuring that public defenders are equipped to assist clients in accessing supportive community services, secure better legal outcomes both inside and outside the courtroom, and ensure that more people can walk away from the criminal legal system with their rights, life, and future protected. Our flagship program embeds trained non-attorney Client Advocates in public defender offices, immediately expanding their capacity to offer clients wraparound support and fight the enmeshed penalties of arrest. We also help public defenders incorporate holistic approaches into their systems and practice. Since our launch in 2018, PFJ has grown from a two-site pilot to partnering with 12 offices across the country. We have leveraged over $2 million in local governmental support and saved our clients nearly 130 years in jail.
