Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights provides essential legal advocacy and education for young people charged as adults, many of whom are held in solitary confinement at Pennsylvania’s Riverside Correctional Facility. These young people, predominantly Black and Brown, face a complex legal system not designed for their needs. Through our program, we offer critical legal support and ensure they understand their rights within that system.
““Know Your Rights is about creating space and building trust so that the young people we are supporting can tell us what they truly need.””
History
Know Your Rights launched in 2022 in partnership with the Youth Advocacy Project. This initiative fills a significant gap in legal education, particularly for youth awaiting trial. While we initially focused on legal rights and mitigation, it quickly became clear that these young people needed more than legal information—they needed a space where they can simply be kids.
Building Trust and Giving Support
The success of Know Your Rights is rooted in the relationships we’ve built with the youth. For two hours every other week, we create a space where they are treated like teenagers, not inmates. They have the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and advocate for themselves, all while interacting with caring adults who recognize their humanity and dignity.
By showing up consistently and fostering trust, we teach them how to communicate with their lawyers and understand the legal process—skills that empower them in a system that often dehumanizes them.
Impact
Through the program, young people gain self-advocacy skills and a sense of self-worth. By engaging with their legal rights, they develop hope that they can survive and thrive, even within an oppressive system.