Background
Across the country, the legal needs of residents have been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil, family, criminal, and other issues can be intertwined and impact both individual and community well-being. These legal needs are experienced most acutely by people of color who reside in historically under-resourced neighborhoods. Yet, it is often difficult to engage these residents to understand their perspectives on access to justice issues and racial equity in the courts.
The pandemic also propelled courts to change how they operate. Many courts have now embraced technological solutions to hold court remotely. These innovations have the potential to improve access to justice for people of all backgrounds, but they were likely not designed for equitable impact in low-income communities of color. Remote settings could even exacerbate inequities in access for people experiencing the digital divide and limited legal resources (e.g., representation).
Engagement and collaboration with community members is needed to identify and address the current challenges that low-income people of color face in their community and local court.
With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NCSC has established a participatory research program to identify and meet the needs of the communities most impacted by legal issues and involvement in the courts. Community representatives will serve as co-researchers with NCSC staff who bring formal research training and background to the project.
The aim of this research is to:
- increase awareness and responsiveness of courts to the needs of under-resourced Black and Brown communities,
- strengthen community-based resources and responses to resident’s legal issues, and
- promote fair, equitable, and inclusive models of holding court, whether they are in-person, hybrid, or remote.
NCSC will directly engage with courts and community organizations in the research to identify court practice and process improvements. Specifically, NCSC will manage the project activities, ensuring that it builds in community voices and values. This direct engagement with low-income communities of color will allow for greater insight and action on effective and sustainable changes.
Communities we are working with:
Details coming soon.
Details coming soon.
Details coming soon.
For more information, please contact Kelly Freeman, Principal Court Research Associate at NCSC.