For seven years, the Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project (ACJP) has implemented a model of participatory defense that empowers families and their communities to actively support loved ones facing criminal or immigration charges in the courts.  Through our family justice hubs led by the very individuals most affected by the criminal justice system, we have been able to keep families together who have been threatened by incarceration or deportation. Wrongful charges have been dropped, sentences reduced, deportations beat, and most importantly, loved ones have come home.

Are you a church, community or youth organization, support group, union, or neighborhood group with members who might be facing criminal charges in the courts? Do you want to learn how to provide meaningful and impactful support for those loved ones?

The Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project (ACJP) offers two types of trainings to organizations nationwide:

• Family Justice Hub Training and Support This training is for organizations who want to implement a regular space or structure in their organization/ group to support members with cases in the criminal justice system.  This comprehensive training runs for approximately 8 hours (usually split into 2 days) that covers the phases of the criminal justice system, court observations, and tools to support their constituencies.  ACJP staff also provide ongoing support for the organization who have active cases.
• Introduction to Participatory Defense This training is geared for community organizations who have constituencies who may come into contact with the criminal justice system and just need the tools to be able to support those families effectively when the moment calls. These trainings would run for 3-4 hours, explains the criminal justice system and identifies points of intervention, as well as specific tools that staff and/or key leaders can walk away with to build their capacity to support their constituencies.

• Creating Effective Mitigation Packets This two hour training is geared for families and community organizations who want to learn how to effectively create a mitigation packet that can assist the courts in understanding the larger context (life challenges, present support, and future prospects) of the individual facing charges.

If you are interested in a training and want to talk through your possible needs with a staff to better tailor a training, please contact us below.