Program areas at CGLA
Cgla's criminal records, emerging adults, and pro bono teams provide Legal services to help people clear adult and juvenile records through expungement, sealing, certificates, waivers, clemency and representation of juveniles in aftercare revocation hearings. We also assist the public at our help desks located at the daley center and markham courthouses and the cook county juvenile temporary detention center. Records clearance and mitigation are the cornerstone of our partnerships with community-based organizations that specialize in workforce development, violence prevention, and homelessness prevention. In 2021, we delivered 5734 records relief services to 4011 clients.
Our criminal defense team provided Legal services to defend individuals who are facing current criminal charges and those who have been released from prison but are charged wih violating the terms of their parole. We delivered 134 defense-related services to 106 clients in 2021.
Civil law program includes family law and housing law services. Our family law program serves the unmet needs of individuals who are currently incarcerated in county jails or state prisons and those who are still serving sentences imposed after conviction. In 2021, cgla handled 141 family law cases for 131 clients. Housing law focuses on individuals who are at imminent risk of homelessness, due to threats of eviction or termination of subsidized vouchers due to alleged criminal activity by the leaseholder, a member of household, or a guest. In 2021, cgla achieved 49 outcomes for 39 clients.
Other program services include client support services and policy services. All cgla's programs are supported by our client support services group. Social workers help to srengthen Legal outcomes by providing wraparound services to clients and their families. The goal is to address non-legal issues and the underlying circumstances that may have contributed to the client's Legal troubles.