JUSTICE IN THE COURTROOM
We believe all children and their families deserve quality legal representation regardless of their ability to pay. Our talented, experienced legal team advocates for children and emerging adults to ensure they have equal access to justice in jail, juvenile court, and criminal court. The Moran Center’s services are free to qualifying individuals.
GET REPRESENTATION
The Moran Center represents and counsels youth under the age of 26 from the City of Evanston involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Qualifying participants must (1) reside within Evanston Township; (2) be 26 or younger; (3) live at or below 80% of poverty as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Please call 847-492-1410, email contact@moran-center.org, or complete our intake application online* to ask about representation.
SYSTEMIC PROGRESS
In 2012, the Moran Center managed 60 – 80 juvenile delinquency matters at any given time including cannabis possession, batteries, and retail theft cases. Today, those low-level offenses have been diverted away from the criminal legal system and only more serious cases are being litigated in the local juvenile delinquency system.
This local trend reflects national, state, and regional trends. However, Evanston’s rate of juvenile prosecution has fallen faster than other surrounding communities – directly attributable to the Moran Center’s advocacy in developing local off-ramps from the system, like the City of Evanston’s Juvenile Administrative Hearings. In 2013, the Moran Center defended 188 children. In sharp contrast, we defended 17 children in 2022 – demonstrating the impact of the Moran Center’s systemic advocacy.
