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Our Mission

Transformative Justice Project of Colorado is on a mission to abolish the school-to-prison pipeline by dismantling systemic racism embedded in the existing institutions of education, mental health, and criminal injustice, while helping young people to develop the tools to define their own story.

Our Vision

We build a world where we keep kids in school and out of prison.

Transformative Justice Project of Colorado

We Keep Kids in School and Out of Prison

The Transformative Justice Project of Colorado works to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by providing direct support to system-impacted youth and challenging the racist systems that criminalize them.

Founded in 2010 as the Colorado Juvenile Defender Center, we initially focused on legal defense. In 2023, we transformed into TJP and expanded our work to include Community Cares—our flagship program providing holistic, wraparound support to youth ages 10-25 who are navigating the legal system.

Through Community Cares, we offer decolonized mental health services, court advocacy, court accompaniment, transportation, resource navigation, and community connection. We don’t just represent youth in court—we walk alongside them through probation, school discipline, housing challenges, and the barriers that systems create.

We also work upstream through Education First (school-based advocacy to prevent suspensions and expulsions), LYRIC (constitutional rights education), and Believe in Youth (record expungement and reintegration support).

TJP meets young people where they are—before, during, and after system contact—because we believe there are no bad kids, only unmet needs.

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Our Programs

TJP provides comprehensive support services to system-impacted young people aged 10 to 25. Our services include culturally-responsive mental health support, legal advocacy and representation, and education assistance. We are dedicated to empowering young people with the tools and resources necessary to overcome challenges, advocate for their rights, and build a brighter future.

EDUCATION FIRST

Education First provides legal representation and advocacy to youth facing school-related disciplinary actions. By intervening before suspensions, expulsions, and school-based arrests push young people into the legal system, Education First works to prevent the school-to-prison pipeline at its source.

COMMUNITY CARES

The Community Cares Program merges mental health support with other end-to-end services, offering a holistic approach to supporting the needs of system-impacted youth. This program is dedicated to addressing the multifaceted needs of young people, ensuring they receive comprehensive support.

LYRIC

Learn Your Rights in the Community (LYRIC) educates young people about their constitutional rights through workshops led by volunteer attorneys and law students. LYRIC teaches youth how to protect themselves during police encounters—bringing Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights to life in schools, youth justice facilities, and community settings.

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Testimonials

"Transformative Justice Project has been the critical piece in my journey several times. I was facing some pretty serious charges and TJP’s services enabled me to be able to defend myself & beat my case even though the odds weren’t in my favor. Not only that but they have helped me overcome hardships time and again with assistance such as transportation, mental health support, childcare costs and more. I wouldn’t be where I am today without TJP and I will forever be grateful that I was able to rely on them in my lowest moments."
Ja’Quaon Hicks
Ja’Quaon HicksTJP Young Person
"I would and already have recommended TJP to families. I never encountered an agency that has a plan and follows through quite like TJP does. With wraparound services including advocacy, research and representation, and providing filing fees in the educational and criminal systems, TJP is making huge change for the families it supports. When you come from where I am from, you don’t really get the support services that see you all the way through adversity; TJP works to change that. The assistance they gave us was accessible, and I felt genuine love from the whole team. They showed up as if my child was one of their own children. To me, that is everything. In less than one month, I got two court cases dropped, a letter from the school saying they dropped the accusations, and a deal with the district on accommodations to meet my son's IEP. Like I said, I have been fighting for years. Thank you, TJP!"
Moriah
MoriahTJP Client and Guardian
"TJP’s services are above and beyond, especially for people who don't have any resources or don't know how to access the system. TJP’s help is greatly appreciated, believe me."
Kathy
KathyTJP Guardian
"Yo recomendaría su programa porque ustedes se involucran con nuestros hijos , nuestros alumnos ayudándolos con terapias consejos pláticas de que ellos pueden cambiar su vida para bien independientemente de la mala decisión que Allan tomado en su vida o en ese momento ustedes por medio de su programa los motivan hacer mejores , a tomar decisiones correctas en sus vidas de nuestros hijos como también les hacen saber que a pesar de que tomaron una mala decisión merecen una segunda oportunidad para demostrase a sí mismos que pueden cambiar su vida para mejor así que nosotros por eso recomendaríamos su programa y deseo de todo corazón que las personas los apoyen por que la verdad en nuestra experiencia propia nos a ayudado mucho su programa nuestro hija está cambiando mucho para bien por eso también quiero agradecerles por todo el apoya."
Cleotilde
CleotildeTJP Guardian
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