Southern Center For Human Rights

THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS WORKING FOR EQUALITY, DIGNITY, AND JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE DEEP SOUTH. SCHR FIGHTS FOR A WORLD FREE FROM MASS INCARCERATION, THE DEATH PENALTY, THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY, AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.OVER OUR FORTY-FOUR YEAR HISTORY, SCHR HAS FORCED COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRISONS AND JAILS TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING, PROVIDE ADEQUATE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND ABATE VIOLENCE AND ABUSE. WE HAVE ARGUED AND WON FIVE DEATH PENALTY CASES AT THE US SUPREME COURT, FOUR OF WHICH CHALLENGED PROFOUND RACE DISCRIMINATION IN CAPITAL TRIALS. OUR COMBINED LITIGATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY HELPED BRING ABOUT THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM IN GEORGIA IN 2003. TODAY, SCHR EMBRACES MULTIFACETED STRATEGIES IN ITS FIGHT FOR A WORLD FREE FROM MASS INCARCERATION, THE DEATH PENALTY, THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY, AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.

CIVIL LITIGATION (IMPACT LITIGATION UNIT)- SCHRS IMPACT LITIGATION UNIT (ILU) CHALLENGES UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE LITIGATION IN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA. THE ILUS WORK CURRENTLY INCLUDES CASES ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE BEING HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, INCARCERATED PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE, PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING EXTREME PRISON SENTENCES, AND ADDRESSING MISMANAGEMENT OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE CAPITAL LITIGATION UNIT (CLU) OF THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTS INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS FACING THE DEATH PENALTY AT ALL STAGES OF THE LEGAL PROCESS IN GEORGIA AND ALABAMA.

PUBLIC POLICYSCHR PUBLISHES REPORTS AND ARTICLES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES INCLUDING JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AND THE NEED FOR MORE HUMANE AND CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSES TO CRIME. SCHR ADVOCATES FOR POSITIVE (AND AGAINST NEGATIVE) CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION. SCHR HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THAT COALITION-BUILDING IS CRUCIAL IN ORDER TO DEEPEN THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK. SCHR LEADS A BROAD COALITION OF ATTORNEYS, CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, CLIENTS, AND LAWMAKERS SPANNING THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO PRESERVE OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM AND ENSURE THAT GEORGIA'S CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO POOR PEOPLE ACCUSED OF CRIMES. SCHR WORKS WITH A VARIETY OF CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATIONS AND THE JUST GEORGIA COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC POLICY MEASURES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY. SCHR ENGAGES IN STRATEGIC MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO BUILD BROADER SUPPORT FOR OUR INITIATIVES.