Section XIII: LEGAL SERVICES

Transcription

1 Section XIII: LEGAL SERVICES State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Summer 2011

2 ALPHABETICAL DIRECTORY OF INFORMATION AND SERVICES Service Page Number Camden Center for Law and Social Justice Immigration Service Office 4 Legal Services of NJ 1, 2, 3 New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts 3 New Jersey Child Support (NJCS) 3 NJ Department of Law and Public Safety Division on Civil Rights 4 NJ Office of the Public Defender 3 State Office of Victim Witness Advocacy 3

3 Legal Services of NJ P.O. Box 1357 Edison, NJ Toll Free: LSNJ LAW ( ) Web: LSNJ coordinates the statewide Legal Services system, which provides free legal assistance to low income New Jersey residents for their legal problems. Through its work, LSNJ strives to secure substantive and procedural justice for those living in poverty. LSNJ welcomes organizations and low income people to participate in the following projects: Anti Predatory Lending Project Domestic Violence Representation Project Education Representation Project Family Representation Project Health Care Access Project Immigration Representation Project Legal Advice to Parents Project Supplemental Representation Unit Supplemental Security Income Project Anti Predatory Lending Project (APLP) The Anti Predatory Lending Project represents victims of improper lending practices. Domestic Violence Representation Project (DVRP) The DVRP was established in 1996 to provide legal assistance to lowincome domestic violence victims and support for pro bono attorneys willing to represent victims of domestic violence. The project offers legal advice and representation to eligible victims of domestic violence at Final Restraining Order hearings as well as in divorce, custody, child support and visitation cases. Please call LSNJ's main number, (732) or 1 (888) Education Representation Project (ERP) The Education Representation Project of Legal Services of New Jersey provides advice and legal representation in education matters to low income parents and students. The Education Representation Project can provide assistance in civil education matters, including the following areas: Abbott Rights Attendance Matters Bilingual Education Bullying Disability Accommodations Discipline Matters Early Intervention Services Rights Afforded under No Child Left Behind School Registration School Transfers Special Education Student Records Transportation 1 of 6

4 Family Representation Project (FRP) Initiated in 1997, the FRP helps to lessen the burden on attorneys who are assigned by New Jersey courts as pro bono counsel to represent indigent parents and children involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). Five attorneys, housed in different Legal Services offices across the state, give advice to these court appointed attorneys in addition to taking on direct representation of parents in termination of parental rights actions. Clients and court appointed attorneys can access the project by calling LSNJ's main number, (732) Health Care Access Project (HCAP ) Initiated in 1999, LSNJ's HCAP was established to provide information, advice, referral, advocacy and legal representation to lower income New Jersey residents who need expert legal help to get necessary quality health care, especially when restricted or denied by a health maintenance organization (HMO). Immigration Representation Project (IRP) Created in 1998, the IRP works to address the needs of low income immigrants in New Jersey for legal representation in a variety of immigration related matters, and to provide support for attorneys willing to provide pro bono representation to this population. The Immigration Representation Project will provide direct representation to lowincome immigrants, focusing primarily on the following types of cases: Naturalization cases involving complex issues; Self petitioning to secure lawful permanent residence for women who are victims of domestic violence; Asylum cases for detained and non detained clients; Representation in other immigration matters where the client faces the potential loss of public benefits due to their immigration status or where there are other exigent circumstances. Clients can access the project by calling the toll free number, LSNJ LAW ( ). Legal Advice to Parents Project (LAPP) The Legal Advice to Parents Project (LAPP) was established by Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) in 2004 to help parents who are involved in or considering voluntary placement agreements with the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). The project is funded by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Supplemental Representation Unit (SRU) Established in 1996, the SRU accepts clients who cannot otherwise be assisted by local Legal Services programs due to funding source limitations. Clients, although usually referred by local Legal Services offices, can access the project by calling the SRU's toll free number, LSNJ. 2 of 6

5 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Project Initiated in 1999, the SSI Project represents a unique joint venture of various state and federal agencies and LSNJ, and has the sole purpose of helping disabled indigent people get a more livable income. The SSI Project represents General Assistance (GA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in all levels of the SSI and Social Security Disability application process. New Jersey Child Support (NJCS) Phone Number: NJKIDS1 ( ) Web: Remember: your child has the right to support and you have the right to this help. All the services described on this site are available to you. You can find more information on this through the Office of Child Support, within the Department of Human Services, to help you find your way along the child support road. Please visit If you would like more information, please contact your county support office or call the New Jersey Child Support Information Line, NJKIDS1. New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts Family Practice Division P.O. Box 983 Trenton, New Jersey Phone: Web: The Family Division consists of many parts and encompasses all aspects of family life. Familyrelated cases, such as those involving divorce, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, child support, foster care placements, adoption, custody and visitation, and terminations of parental rights, are heard in the Family Division of Superior Court. NJ Office of the Public Defender Phone: Web: In its criminal defense function, the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender not only provides legal counsel at the Superior Court level in each of the state's 21 counties, but also handles appeals and other ancillary legal proceedings. The office provides attorneys for indigent criminal defendants in both the adult and juvenile levels of Superior Court. State Office of Victim Witness Advocacy Department of Law and Public Safety Phone: E Mail: victimassistance@dcj.lps.state.nj.us Web: As a crime victim or a witness of a crime, you have certain rights in the criminal justice system. There are many services available to you so that your participation in the criminal justice system will be less stressful and more informed. This is accomplished through the State and County Offices of Victim Witness Advocacy. In each of the 21 county prosecutors' offices there is a County Office of Victim Witness Advocacy. 3 of 6

6 Division on Civil Rights NJ Department of Law and Public Safety Phone: TTY: Web: The Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is part of the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (L&PS) and is the agency responsible for investigating discrimination complaints and eradicating illegal discrimination in New Jersey. Camden Center for Law and Social Justice Immigration Service Office 126 North Broadway, 2 nd Floor Camden, New Jersey Phone: Web: The Camden Center For Law and Social Justice, Inc. (CCLSJ) is a privately funded, non profit, faith based public interest law center dedicated to serving the legal needs of the immigrant community and working poor in the City of Camden and throughout the Southern New Jersey region. CCLSJ concentrates its practice in immigration law, family law, protecting victims of domestic violence, and general civil law. 4 of 6