About Florida Justice Center

 

Our Mission: To empower individuals by providing legal support, community education, and removing barriers to success caused by the criminal legal system.

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Our Impact Since January 2020

Updated March 28, 2023

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We can improve our local communities by helping one another. Hear from some of the people we’ve helped.

"I can't tell you how much of a positive impact this will have on my life. I honestly didn't know if I would ever achieve this victory. Other attorneys/agencies have blown me off or simply didn't know how to help. Thank you so much for your help and guidance. I tell everyone I can about the great work you do at the Florida Justice Center!"

Janice, FLJC Client

"I am back on my feet. I am extremely grateful that people like you are out there in the world helping people reclaim some semblance of their lives pre-arrest."

Julie D, FLJC Client

"Thank you so much for all of your help. Your team is literally helping me change my life exponentially for the better."

Davis, FLJC Client

Diverse hands reaching out to help eachother

WHO WE ARE

Florida Justice Center (FLJC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit legal aid organization that provides free and low-cost services to low-income people in Florida to help them overcome barriers caused by criminal legal system involvement.

We were founded, and are led, by someone with lived experience in the criminal legal system and board members who are either attorneys or people personally impacted by the system themself or through a loved one.

The organization was started to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in the criminal legal system and to help build equity for marginalized and disproportionately affected groups.

Florida Justice Center serves the entire state of Florida and has offices in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Our Beliefs

  • What is it? To empower individuals by providing legal support, community education, and removing barriers to success caused by the criminal justice system.
  • Our Vision: A fair and equitable Florida for people seeking a second chance.
  • Our Values: Igniting Integrity, Inspiring Change, Investing in People and Communities, Influencing Mindset and Perception.
  • Community Collaboration: Working together is essential to helping uplift community members. We partner with nonprofit community organizations, private attorneys, legal aid organizations, and government agencies to improve access to justice, medical and mental health care, education, and other basic needs to holistically address client needs.

Legal Aid Organization

  • What is a legal aid? A legal aid organization is a nonprofit law firm that provides free or low-cost legal services to low-income individuals with the goal of improving access to justice for those who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
  • Why is it necessary? While the Constitution of the United States guarantees equal justice under the law, those facing civil legal issues are not afforded a court-appointed attorney as defendants are in criminal cases. With 7 million Floridians living below 200% of the federal poverty level, nearly one-third of residents don’t make a living wage. These individuals, 32.9% of the state’s population, cannot afford thousands of dollars for a lawyer. Legal aid organizations fill that void.
  • What is a civil legal issue? Anything that falls outside of criminal law is considered a civil legal issue. Some examples include divorce, evictions, government benefits, child support, personal injury, contracts, and bankruptcy. While Florida Justice Center does not assist with those issues, we are a civil legal aid provider assisting in post-adjudicatory matters.

OUR SERVICES

Voting Rights

Florida Justice Center is the only nonprofit voter registration organization in the state qualified under current administrative rules to provide advice and guidance regarding an individual’s ability to register and vote. All clients are evaluated by a staff attorney to provide the most complete and accurate advice available.

Probation

We can help you deal with whatever is thrown your way. Florida Justice Center is the support network you need to succeed in supervision. Our team of lawyers is ready and willing to work with you to address any barriers to success that you are having while on probation.

Some of the services we assist with include early termination of probation, modification of terms of supervision, travel permits, preparation for parole hearings, and termination of pre-trial intervention or diversion programs.

Sealing & Expungement

Florida Justice Center wants you to get a fresh start by eliminating a huge barrier to your employment, housing, and income: your arrest record. Our attorneys will research your eligibility under the law and, if you qualify, we will complete the paperwork on your behalf and represent you in court.

 

Clemency

If you have been convicted of a felony offense in Florida, you may have lost over 1,100 rights. We want to help you get back as many of these as possible, including:

  • Holding professional licenses
  • Owning/possessing firearms
  • Running for public office

Other forms of clemency include full pardons, commutation of a sentence, and remission of fines.

Mugshot Removal

If you have been arrested in the past decade, it is likely your mugshot will show up in a Google or other web search result.

Predatory websites use your likeness for their own financial gain. They don't care if you are innocent or if they're destroying your employment prospects. All they care about is money. We can help remove your photograph from these websites.

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