ArchCity Defenders

Legal ServicesMissouri, United States11-50 Employees

ArchCity Defenders is a nonprofit legal services organization based in St. Louis, Missouri. It pursues holistic advocacy intended to counter the criminalization of poverty and state violence, with a focus on communities of color, through civil and criminal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration. The model integrates legal aid with connections to social supports to pursue justice and equitable outcomes for residents in the St. Louis region and beyond.

Founded in 2009 by Thomas Harvey, Michael-John Voss, and John McAnnar to provide free legal services to the poor and homeless, ArchCity Defenders has developed a regional presence as a holistically focused legal advocate. To date, it has filed 55 civil rights lawsuits challenging practices such as predatory policing, debtors’ prisons, illegal housing practices, cash bail, and jail conditions, resulting in notable outcomes like ending debtors’ prisons in Jennings and Ferguson and securing about $10 million in damages for those affected. In June 2024, the organization launched the Know Your Rights Pro Se STL series to expand access to legal information and self-representation resources.

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