Youth Justice Coalition


Youth Justice Coalition is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization focused on juvenile justice and criminal legal reforms. YJC is a non-profit organization devoted to challenging race, gender and class inequality in California’s juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Advocacy positions

Gang injunctions

YJC has been a part of movement to challenge the impact of gang injunctions on young people in minority communities. YJC was successful in blocking an injunction in the Imperial Courts Housing Projects in the early 2000s.

New jail construction

In 2015, YJC was part of a coalition that opposed the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 2 billion dollar jail expansion project. Kim McGill from YJC argued for mental health programs in the community instead of jail for the mentally ill.

Police shootings

In 2014, YJC published a report on police-involved homicides. YJC petitioned Kamala Harris to appoint special prosecutors for police-involved homicides. In 2015, YJC organized a "Die In" protest at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors building. About 400 protestors carried cardboard coffins to represent the killings by police officers.

School searches

YJC has protested Los Angeles Unified School District search policies, including LAUSD’s Random Metal Detector Search Policy, arguing that these policies erode trust between students and school staff. YJC is a part of the "Students Not Suspects" campaign, aligning with the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Lives Matter, Public Counsel and others.