Impact: Advice that Keeps Families Together

A Cook County public defender consulted the National Immigrant Justice Center about a Colombian survivor of domestic violence who had been charged with a class-three felony for vandalism. The woman has resided in the United States for 11 years and is the mother of two U.S. citizen children. NIJC's Defenders Initiative advised the public defender to plea the case to a misdemeanor, or at least avoid a sentence longer than one year. The public defender followed NIJC’s advice and the court sentenced the client to 18 months of probation and 50 hours of community service. Thanks to NIJC’s advice, the woman remains eligible to become a lawful permanent resident.