The 2021 General Assembly session is wrapping up, and all the bills and budget amendments that passed the Virginia House and Senate are on their way to the Governor to be signed into law. Successfully advocating for legislation at the GA is a tough job in the best of circumstances,…

download pdf version here Today, Virginians are one step away from a major victory: criminal record sealing that is automatic, equitable, free, and far reaching. Bills (SB1339, HB2113) that will greatly expand and improve the process of sealing criminal records have successfully passed both houses and are awaiting Governor Northam’s…

Download PDF version here TAKE ACTION – CLICK TO TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT OUR AGENDA Criminal Legal System Reform  Expungement – Virginia’s criminal records expungement law is in urgent need of change. We must create an automatic expungement system that is equitable, far-reaching, automatic, and free.   Court Fines and…

After suffering a serious illness, Adolfo and his family found themselves facing eviction. Fortunately, he found help.  If you are concerned about keeping your home during the COVID-19 pandemic click here to learn more about your rights through federal and state policies.  

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Download a pdf version here December 21, 2020The Honorable Ralph NorthamGovernor of VirginiaP.O. Box 1475Richmond, VA 23218 RE:  Ensuring Accurate Information, Access, Safeguards, and Fair Processes: Marginalized Groups and Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans Dear Governor Northam, On behalf of the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC), I write to urge…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2020   PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS REACH SETTLEMENT WITH HOPEWELL REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY ON CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT     Richmond, VA — Public housing tenants and the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) have reached a proposed settlement valued at nearly $300,000 in a…

Download PDF version here STATEMENT: Tenant Protections in Proposed Budget Will Leave Too Many Virginians At Risk of Eviction During this national emergency, tenants in Virginia need a comprehensive eviction moratorium to protect themselves, their families, and the community. While the language in the proposed budget provides some protections for…

After years of advocacy by the Legal Aid Justice Center and numerous other dedicated community partners, community members, and youth, we celebrate a substantial victory on the road to ending school pushout in Richmond Public Schools. Monday’s unanimous vote by the City of Richmond School Board in support of a…

   CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST LAW FIRM WHO ILLEGALLY PROFITS FROM MASS EVICTIONS ACROSS VIRGINIA   The Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC), along with the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley and the Charlottesville law firm MichieHamlett, today filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of tenants throughout the state of…

Download PDF here   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Critical Protections Passed Protecting Workers Against COVID-19 Emergency temporary standards mandate common-sense protections for Virginians in the workplace   Richmond, VA— Today, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board acted to protect the Commonwealth’s workers by adopting emergency temporary…

As of July 1st, the law allowing the suspension of a person’s driver’s license in Virginia due to unpaid court debt has permanently ended.  Watch a short video produced by LAJC and Nolef Turns on what you need to do to have your license reinstated and read and download our…

Ending Virginia’s Driver’s License Suspension Trap Six years ago, a Charlottesville jail superintendent brought a serious problem to the local reentry council: the jail was full of people locked up just for driving on a suspended license. What’s worse, they lost their licenses due to criminal/traffic court debt they just…

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Download PDF here Eviction Crisis to Catastrophe   New Data Predicts an Avalanche of Evictions in Virginia  A report from the Legal Aid Justice Center examines new Census data that show low-income communities and communities of color are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain stable housing   Richmond, VA— The…

  Legal Aid Justice Center Statement On the Proposed Re-opening of Virginia     (click here to take action) Governor Northam’s jaw-dropping announcement on Monday, reiterated today, that Virginia could be partially re-opening for business as early as May 15 is reckless and cruel. A partial reopening on May 15…

        Listen to, and read, a statement from Cynthia Scott who is currently incarcerated at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy, Virginia. Ms. Scott, one of the five plaintiffs in our lawsuit addressing the insufficient medical care in the facility in 2012, is now living…

In the midst of a crisis, it can be hard to talk about anything else, but we wanted to take a minute and share with you some truly transformational outcomes from our advocacy efforts at the 2020 Virginia General Assembly session that ended on March 12. Your support helped make…

       All Legal Aid Justice Center offices are currently closed to walk-in visitors. If you need assistance please contact us via phone or email. Click here for contact information.      STATEMENT FROM THE LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER ON PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC    In light of current…