The Georgia Justice Project thanks the 2006 Donors who generously supported the unlikely mix of lawyers, social workers and a landscape company. Click here to see our list of 2006 Supporters or click here to find out how to become a part of the ''2007 Advocacy Circles''. Click here to find out more about GJP.

GEORGIA JUSTICE PROJECT CELEBRATES...
20 YEARS OF CHANGING THE COMMUNITY ONE PERSON AT A TIME Mayor Shirley Franklin said "Not only does GJP give hope to people who do not have hope and representation to people who do not have representation GJP also opens the door of entrepreneurism… The Georgia Justice Project adopts people as family and brings them in very close to... make it clear that ...whether you’re found guilty or innocent, you are not on your own to take the next steps in reclaiming your life. Now I can’t think of anything more worthy of praise than that approach." On October 18th the Georgia Justice Project celebrated and honored its 20th Anniversary. We want to extend a special "Thank You" to Mayor Shirley Franklin, to our Host Committee and to our "unlikely mix" of sponsors for reminiscing with us about our past journey and looking forward to the future of what lies ahead. Click here to see a complete listing of our Sponsors and Event hosts

GJP is pleased to announce the addition of Christopher Hayes as the Director of New Horizon Landscaping (NHL). Chris brings 15 years of experience in the field of landscaping management to his new role, including a previous term as owner of his own landscaping company. As Director, Chris hopes to create a venue to better serve GJP clients by consolidating current operations, building a managerial structure and emphasizing more efficient and sustainable growth of the landscaping company.

''Microsoft donates computers and software to aid in job training for Atlanta residents'' Atlanta residents trying to break the cycle of crime and poverty in their lives will have a new opportunity to do so, thanks to a technology donation from Microsoft. The Georgia Justice Project (GJP), a criminal defense agency serving Atlanta’s indigently accused, will receive a donation of computers and accompanying software from Microsoft to support a computer-based skills training program, increasing participants’ ability to earn a higher-paying income. Microsoft has committed to donating a computer and software package for each person enrolled in the program through 2006. Click here to read the full press release Click here to read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Article

Georgia Justice Project is pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Doug Ammar, is the 2006 recipient of the Evelyn G. Ullman Innovative Leadership Award. This award is presented annually by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to individuals who exemplify "outstanding leadership in addressing a community issue." Click here to read the full press release

Since his retirement from King & Spalding in 2003, Fellow Lane Dennard has volunteered at the Georgia Justice Project (GJP), a non-profit group of lawyers, social workers and job staff that represents indigent clients accused of crime. In order to receive legal representation by GJP, clients must commit to counseling and other services provided to help them live crime-free and productive lives. As a result of this “restorative” approach to representation, the recidivism rate for GJP clients is 18.8%, as compared to the nationwide rate of almost 60%.
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Georgia State University professors Clark Cunningham and Brenda Blackwell recently published about an article about Georgia Justice Project in Law and Contemporary Problems. Read the full article: Duke Law Journal

In February, Georgia Justice Project Executive Director visited Pepperdine University's Institute on Law, Religion and Ethics. Doug spoke about his vision for lawyering at the conference entitled Our Responsibility to "The Orphan, The Widow, The Alien," and "The Least of These." To learn more and hear Doug's speech, visit the conference website: http://law.pepperdine.edu/visitors/ilre/lawyers_faith_social_justice.jsp

The following is an excerpt from an article on GJP written by Amy Uelemen which appeared in the August/September 2004 issue of livingCity magazine.

Read the full article on the livingCity web site:

http://www.livingcitymagazine.com/2004_08_Georgia.html

"Looking at the host of problems surrounding legal representation for the poor who have been charged with a crime, there seems to be little hope. It is not so much because their legal rights are undefined. As the United States Supreme Court decided in 1963, the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires states to provide counsel to indigent defendants charged with serious crimes."

The Georgia Justice Project turns lives around through aggressive defense, holistic relationships%%%
__By Douglas Ammar__

SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA: It’s deep in the night on a lonely road. The attorney jumps out of her car and runs toward her client, the contract for him to join Georgia Justice Project and avoid jail in her outstretched hand. Just then, a police helicopter tops a nearby hill and its nightsun searchlight paints the two in a hot white blaze. “Stay where you are, and keep your hands where we can see them,” orders the faceless voice over the chopper’s loudspeaker.
The chopper lands, officers surround the attorney and client, slam her client onto the hood of her car and cuff him. “I didn’t turn you in,” she says. “Nobody else knew, bitch,” he spits back at her. “Scraping puke off the sidewalk again, counselor?” sneers one of the officers. “He’s not resisting,” she says.