Louisiana Center for Children's Rights

Louisiana Center for Children's Rights The Louisiana Center for Children's Rights fights to keep children out of the legal system so that they can thrive in their homes and communities.

09/01/2026

With America having just turned 250, The Just Trust invites us to dream of what justice can look like in the next 250 years, if we build it together.

During the Natl Youth Justice Network conference last week, we asked the audience to dream with us and share some solutions they’ve seen or believe could work.

This gentleman shared his experience visiting prisons in the Norwegian carceral system. He described how light the sentencing is, how beautiful the facilities are, how respectful the people are treated.. and one thing that stood out was a guard saying, “We took their freedom, not their humanity.”

While we would like for no children to be incarcerated in the next 250 years, we always stand behind centering their humanity in every situation and solution. Understanding that our young people are human and that humans make mistakes is crucial if we ever hope to change the roots of our harmful justice system.

Conversations like these remind us what is possible!

What’s a change you’d like to see happen in our justice system over the next 250 years?

Last week, we participated in the National Youth Justice Network Annual Forum hosted by Natl Youth Justice Network. All ...
08/30/2026

Last week, we participated in the National Youth Justice Network Annual Forum hosted by Natl Youth Justice Network. All week, we gathered with advocates, allies, and organizations from across the country to share our knowledge, experiences, and strategies for building a better future for our young people.⁠
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A major theme we continued to encounter through every panel, activity, and presentation was the intersectionality of the systems affecting our children. From policing and racism to generational trauma, mental health, and everything in between.⁠
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⁠One important conclusion we reached was the importance of community: in the lives of our children, in intervening when harm happens, and in practicing sustainability to keep the people behind the movement going. This conference was a beautiful way to lead by example!⁠
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It truly was a helpful and healing experience, and we are grateful to have been part of it. We’re looking forward to the next one!⁠
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Did you know that August is Black Philanthropy Month? ⁠⁠Give 8/28, founded in 2018 by the Young, Black & Giving Back Ins...
08/27/2026

Did you know that August is Black Philanthropy Month? ⁠
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Give 8/28, founded in 2018 by the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute, is a national day of giving focused on uplifting Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits, which are often underfunded, yet continue to meet the needs of their communities.⁠
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The name 8/28 isn't random. Historical events occurred on 8/28 throughout the years. On 8/28 in 1955, Emmitt Till was murdered. On 8/28 in 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his 'I Have A Dream' speech. On 8/28 in 2005, Hurricane Katrina became a Category 5 storm barreling its way toward New Orleans.⁠
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Here at LCCR, we are working to cultivate a better future than what history has often planted. In our city, where more than 95% of children arrested are Black, we fight every day for them and the communities that are impacted.⁠
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Tomorrow, on 8/28, this week, we ask that you invest $28 today for our Black youth.⁠
The link is in our bio!⁠
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#828

New Orleans has gained a powerful ancestor.⁠⁠Baba Jerome “Big Duck” Smith spent his life fighting for the freedom, digni...
08/25/2026

New Orleans has gained a powerful ancestor.⁠
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Baba Jerome “Big Duck” Smith spent his life fighting for the freedom, dignity, and future of Black children in New Orleans. As a Freedom Rider and outspoken civil rights leader, he carried that fight home and poured it into generations of young people.⁠
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He co-founded Tambourine & Fan, where children learned things like Black history, New Orleans culture, and self-empowerment. When the construction of the Claiborne overpass took away a space where children could safely play, he fought for Hunter’s Field. ⁠
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He understood that our children deserve more and are worth fighting for. Well the babies must have felt his energy, because he earned the name “Big Duck” based on how often children followed behind him like ducklings.⁠
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At LCCR, we share his belief in the value and possibility of every child in this city. We thank you, Baba Duck, for a lifetime of service and love for New Orleans and our children.⁠
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Rest in power.⁠
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08/22/2026

Today was the final day of the National Youth Justice Network Annual Forum hosted by Natl Youth Justice Network. All week, we gathered with advocates, allies, and organizations from across the country to share our knowledge, experiences, and strategies for building a better future for our young people.⁠
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A major theme we continued to encounter through every panel, activity, and presentation was the intersectionality of the systems affecting our children. From policing and racism to generational trauma, mental health, and everything in between.⁠
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We ended our time considering The Just Trust’s question of how we can build justice for the next 250 years. We shared an excerpt they provided from “Crime and Punishment in America,” which was a fitting end to this week’s conversation. It reminds us that the intrusion of so many of these systems into our lives leads our kids directly to the criminal justice system, rather than to the help they truly need and that these systems sometimes even promise.⁠

When we asked what are some methods that are working right now, the answers kept coming back to community…building our own political power, organizing for ourselves, listening to and making space for young people to lead, engaging families and elders, and holding onto hope that what society accepts as “normal” can change. The path forward is already being built in our communities.

This conference truly been a helpful and healing experience, and we are grateful to have been part of it. We’re looking forward to the next one!⁠
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We're proud to partner with the National Youth Justice Network for the 2026 Annual Forum: We Free Us, taking place right...
08/11/2026

We're proud to partner with the National Youth Justice Network for the 2026 Annual Forum: We Free Us, taking place right here in New Orleans.⁠
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This year's forum will bring together youth leaders, advocates, organizers, attorneys, and allies from across the country to strategize around building a stronger movement for youth justice through an intersectional lens. ⁠
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We'll explore how systems like the school-to-prison pipeline, family policing, crimmigration, and mental health intersect, and how we can work together to dismantle them.⁠
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🔗 Click the link in our bio for more details and to register today.⁠
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Please come learn, heal, and build with us!⁠
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Last week, our team had the opportunity to present at the Office of the State Public Defender's Juvenile Justice Summit,...
08/05/2026

Last week, our team had the opportunity to present at the Office of the State Public Defender's Juvenile Justice Summit, sharing how LCCR's holistic representation model has helped transform youth defense in Louisiana. We were especially proud to highlight that the East Baton Rouge Advanced Advocacy Project was built by adopting LCCR's interdisciplinary approach to representing children.⁠
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We also reflected on the role policy advocacy plays next to direct representation. Over the years, LCCR has helped advance reforms that expand opportunities for children, improve access to fair legal processes, and push back against policies that would deepen youth involvement in the justice system.⁠
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Thank you to everyone who joined us!⁠
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In FY 2026, your support helped 600+ Louisiana kids access the care, support, and justice they deserve, from school enro...
07/28/2026

In FY 2026, your support helped 600+ Louisiana kids access the care, support, and justice they deserve, from school enrollment to jobs, mental health care, mentoring programs, and more.⁠
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We thank all of you for helping keep our kids out of prisons and in their communities, where they can thrive best. Let's continue!⁠
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- Drop a 👏🏾 to give everyone involved a round of applause!⁠
- Then read our full 2026 impact report at the link in our bio.⁠
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Join us next Friday, July 31st, at our March for Juvenile Justice, a bar crawl for a great cause! We will start at the R...
07/24/2026

Join us next Friday, July 31st, at our March for Juvenile Justice, a bar crawl for a great cause! We will start at the Rendezvous Tavern at 5:30 pm, then stop at The Balcony Bar, and end at The Bulldog. ⁠
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The cost is $25 per person which includes an official event t-shirt! Drinks not included. The proceeds directly benefit LCCR to help us continue doing this important work for youth justice.⁠
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So grab a friend and come mingle with us next Friday!⁠
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RSVP at the link in our bio!⁠
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Meet our 2026 Law Clerk and Intern Class! We're honored to help build their expertise in Youth Justice as they continue ...
07/23/2026

Meet our 2026 Law Clerk and Intern Class! We're honored to help build their expertise in Youth Justice as they continue their journeys toward becoming the future leaders our communities need. Some of the schools they represent include Xavier University, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, New York University, and Columbia University.⁠
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They're here working with our attorneys, youth advocates, and social workers to learn the ropes and help support our clients.⁠
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Send them your warmest wishes in the comments! 🧡⁠
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Address

1100-B Milton Street
New Orleans, LA
70122

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15046586860

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