The Legal Aid Society has announced the launch of the Community Justice Unit (CJU) Mobile Justice Bus Tour, which will travel throughout New York City to meet New Yorkers in their communities to provide free legal resources.

The Mobile Justice tour kicked off last week in the Bronx, recognizing the borough as having the communities most impacted by poverty, racism, over-policing, food scarcity, and a lack of housing. The Justice tour builds on CJU’s aims of defending, educating, and organizing community members and connecting those members, in collaboration with the Crisis Management System (CMS), with the rich resources of Legal Aid’s three cross-functional law practices – the Criminal Defense Practice, Civil Practice, and Juvenile Rights Practice.

Originally launched during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the CJU Mobile Justice Bus was created to bring critical legal services to disaster-impacted communities most affected by the storm. The Mobile Justice Bus was designed to bring legal resources directly to people experiencing crisis so they could receive support and resources.

“As public defenders, the courtroom is the beginning of a much broader effort; we are zealous about meeting the legal needs of the communities we serve, especially by going to where they live,” said Anthony Posada, Supervising Attorney of the Community Justice Unit. “The CJU Mobile Justice Bus Tour will bring senior attorneys and seasoned community organizers to connect with community members experiencing trauma, crisis, and untreated needs with unique, human-centered legal services that will help our communities stay safe.”

CJU is the exclusive wrap-around legal services provider to the New York City Crisis Management System (CMS), which implements the community-oriented violence prevention model to treat gun violence in their communities. CJU defends CMS sites across the city and educates Community Partners on their rights, how to navigate legal systems, and how to access vital services that respond to their legal and social service needs. CJU organizes to harness community power and help neighbors mobilize against social injustices and disparities.

CJU’s efforts center communities impacted by gun violence to develop proactive strategies to reduce gun and gang violence by providing holistic legal representation to underserved communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to legal counsel, CJU conducts extensive community outreach, including providing legal clinics and Know Your Rights trainings at over 30 Cure Violence/Crisis Management partner locations and the catchment areas they serve.