About Us
The Office for Justice Initiatives (OJI) promotes meaningful, equal access to justice for everyone entering a New York State court regardless of income, background or special need. What started as the Access to Justice Program has grown into a robust office that provides leadership and oversight of the Unified Court System's many justice-based initiatives, including pro bono programs, self-help services, technological tools, problem solving courts, the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project, and outreach programs throughout New York State’s 62 counties.
Existing Programs
- Community outreach efforts;
- CourtHelp website designed specifically to help litigants obtain easy-to-understand legal and procedural information as well as instructions for managing their court cases
- Court Navigators to assist unrepresented litigants in housing and consumer debt cases;
- Do-It-Yourself forms, programs and technology initiatives;
- Help Centers located in courts throughout the state where litigants receive free legal information and assistance to navigate the court system without a lawyer; and
- Volunteer Attorney and other volunteer programs to provide legal information, advice and representation for those disadvantaged by income, age or disability.
OJI Initiatives
- Child welfare, juvenile and adolescent justice initiatives, including implementation of recent legislation raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York State;
- Developing and coordinating region specific community outreach initiatives designed to broaden access to and improve public understanding of the legal system; and
- Gaining legislative and public support for the New York State Judiciary’s proposals relating to access-to-justice matters.
The OJI also aims to secure stable and adequate non-profit and government funding for civil, criminal, and family legal services programs. We will continue to partner with the Advisory Committee on Access for People with Disabilities, the Center for Court Innovation (CCI), the Division of Technology, the Forms Committees, the Grants Office, the Office of Language Access, the Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, and law schools.