NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER INCORPORATED

As filed

Subsection

03

Classification

1000

Street

500 LAUREL AVE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• LEGAL REPRESENTATION & ADVICE: "THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER'S PRIMARY PROGRAM IS OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED PERSONS WHO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES AND NEED EXTENDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION, BRIEF LEGAL SERVICE AND/OR ADVICE ONLY TO OBTAIN THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME IN THEIR CASE. AS AN ORGANIZATION CREATED BY AND FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, NJC SEEKS TO REPRESENT CLIENTS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY SEEKING TO ASSIST THOSE GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY DISENFRANCHISED AND TARGETED FOR UNFAIR TREATMENT. NJC STAFF LOOK BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE LEGAL PROBLEMS TO SERVE THE WHOLE PERSON, HELPING TO CONNECT SUCH SERVICES AS HOUSING ASSISTANCE, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND/ OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ALSO FACE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES AND WE PARTNER WITH EXPERTS IN IMMIGRATION LAW TO PROTECT AND INFORM OUR CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RISKS. NJC STRIVES TO PROVE STAFF THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE BY HIRING BILINGUAL, CULTURALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE ATTORNEYS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND LAW CLERKS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES LEGAL DEFENSE SERVICE NJC PROVIDES THROUGH THE RAMSEY COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS, AND OUR LEGAL ADVICE SERVICES. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR NJC STATISTICS DEMONSTRATE THAT OVER 76% OF NJC CLIENTS WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR, WITH OUR CLIENT-IDENTIFIED STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN BEING 33% AFRICAN AMERICAN/ BLACK, 24% CAUCASIAN, 7% HISPANIC, 12% AMERICAN INDIAN, 4% EAST ASIAN, AND 20% SELF-IDENTIFIED AS OTHER/ MIXED RACE. WE BELIEVE THESE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE THAT NJC IS STILL REACHING THE MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN OUR STATE AND ENSURING THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION NO MATTER THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE PROGRAM DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1925 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDES OVER 400 FORMAL CRIMINAL CASES WHERE TALENTED NJC ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FULL-SERVICE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND LITIGATION FOR ANY LEGAL ISSUE ARISING IN CASES RANGING FROM LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANORS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL FELONIES. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED, WE ALSO SERVED AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 275 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR DEFENSE ROLE IN THE RAMSEY COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS, WHERE WE REPRESENT EVERY PARTICIPANT IN THE TREATMENT COURTS FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR TIME IN THIS INTENSIVE, TREATMENT-FOCUSED PROGRAM. THIS IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT HAS KEPT HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM GOING TO JAIL/ PRISON, AND INSTEAD INVESTED IN THEIR TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, RESULTING IN SOBER, HEALTHY CLIENTS REGAINING THEIR ABILITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS. KNOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS FEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SIMPLY ASK LEGAL QUESTIONS, NJC PROVIDES OUR FREE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE, WHICH HELPED OVER 1250 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. THIS SERVICE ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO CONTACT NJC ATTORNEYS DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL QUESTIONS, FREE OF CHARGE, WITH THE GOAL OF GUIDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE BEST OUTCOME AND TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS INCLUDES OVER 350 ADVICE SESSIONS THAT LASTED OVER A HALF-HOUR AND MAY HAVE REQUIRED OUTSIDE CONTACTS OR OTHER ACTIONS BY THE ATTORNEY TO GATHER THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO COMPREHENSIVELY SERVE THIS COMMUNITY MEMBER. WE BELIEVE THESE ADVICE SERVICES PROMOTE JUST OUTCOMES BY GIVING PEOPLE IN NEED HONEST LEGAL ADVICE WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF PAYMENT. "

  Expenses $809,836 · Revenue $2,599

• COMMUNITY OUTREACH: "NJC'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. WE FOCUS ON SERVING LOW INCOME PERSONS, JUVENILES, REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM VARIOUS CULTURES, AND ALSO SEEKS TO EDUCATE THE BROADER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE REALITIES AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIKE OUR CLIENTS. THIS PROGRAM INTENDS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE LAW BY CLARIFYING WHAT CONSTITUTES ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, HOW TO AVOID CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHILE STILL RETAINING AND ENFORCING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THIS PROGRAM CAN TAKE MANY FORMS FROM LARGE PRESENTATIONS, SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, DIGITAL MEETINGS, TABLING EVENTS, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE. TO ENSURE BROAD AWARENESS OF OUR SERVICES, WE PARTNER WITH NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS, SHELTERS, PRO BONO PARTNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAMS TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN ACCESS TO VITAL LEGAL SERVICES.IN THE LAST YEAR NJC REACHED APPROXIMATELY 250 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR IN-PERSON COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, NJC PROVIDES MULTIPLE FORMS OF DIGITAL INFORMATION SO INDIVIDUALS CAN FIND AND CONTACT NJC ONLINE TO BOTH LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW, BUT ALSO WHERE TO SEEK HELP SHOULD THEY NEED IT. IN THE LAST YEAR OUR DIGITAL OUTREACH CONNECTED WITH OVER 3,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WHERE MOST VISITORS UTILIZED OUR BLOG POSTS, WHICH FOCUS ARE PRACTICAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MODERN LEGAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. FURTHER, WE REACHED AN ADDITION APPROXIMATELY 2000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, WHICH ALSO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON PERTINENT LEGAL ISSUES. NJC IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION, BUT WE STRIVE TO REACH THE COMMUNITY IN AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. "

• "AT NJC WE BELIEVE THAT GOOD PEOPLE CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND PEOPLE HAVE THE AMAZING ABILITY TO GROW AND CHANGE, AND AS A RESULT EXPUNGEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL GROWTH. EXPUNGEMENTS BENEFIT EVERYONE, FROM THE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING THE EXPUNGEMENT, TO EMPLOYERS WHO NEED QUALITY, DEDICATED WORKERS. THESE SECOND CHANCES ALLOW REFORMED PEOPLE BACK IN THE WORK FORCE, USING THEIR TALENTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO MORE STABLE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. MINNESOTA LAW NOW SUPPORTS EXPUNGEMENT FOR REFORMED PEOPLE IN MANY CASES, BUT THIS LEGAL PROCESS IS LONG AND UNFORTUNATELY COMPLICATED. NJC SPECIALIZES IN HELPING THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLICATED EXPUNGEMENT CASES, MULTIPLE PRIOR CONVICTIONS AND ALSO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PERSONAL LIMITATIONS THAT MAY PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO FILE AN EXPUNGEMENT ON THEIR OWN. NJC PROVIDES FULL SERVICE EXPUNGEMENT REPRESENTATION, FROM THE INITIAL CONSULTATION THROUGH ALL STAGES OF LITIGATION. IN THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR NJC SERVED CLIENTS ON 210 EXPUNGEMENT PETITIONS IN COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MN. OF THE PETITIONS THAT CAME TO FINAL DECISION, OVER 96% WERE GRANTED IN FULL, GIVING THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BETTER FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. THOSE CLIENTS WHO WERE DENIED EXPUNGEMENTS WERE THEN GIVEN PRACTICAL HELP TO MAKE THEM BETTER EXPUNGEMENT CANDIDATES IN THE FUTURE. "

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

• CULLIN J SMITH

  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $161,230

  From this org

  $128,355

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $32,875

  Hours/week

  40

  Schedule J breakdown matched by us

  Base

  $128,355

  Bonus

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Deferred

  $0

  Nontaxable benefits

  $32,875

  Filer's total

  $161,230

• ERNEST DIAL

  CHAIR AND TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MANNY K ATWAL

  VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MARCUS ALMON

  SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• DAN GUERRERO

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• THOMAS BARRETT

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• CHARLES CLIPPERT

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• THOMAS POWELL

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• CEAN SHANDS

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• PAMELA L STEWART

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MEAGAN THWAITES

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• JOHN URSU

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• HERMAN WHITE

  DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $1,053,223

  Expenses

  $897,580

  Contributions

  $1,029,918

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $958,607

  Expenses

  $990,978

  Contributions

  $929,372

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $687,771

  Expenses

  $853,847

  Contributions

  $667,662

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $751,677

  Expenses

  $742,854

  Assets (EOY)

  $767,560

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $993,934

  Expenses

  $681,815

  Assets (EOY)

  $748,432

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $663,450

  Expenses

  $686,723

  Assets (EOY)

  $427,260

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $639,030

  Expenses

  $643,153

  Assets (EOY)

  $427,257

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $641,116

  Expenses

  $590,701

  Assets (EOY)

  $432,088

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $593,811

  Expenses

  $568,157

  Assets (EOY)

  $375,649

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $531,485

  Expenses

  $516,903

  Assets (EOY)

  $347,952

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $527,457

  Expenses

  $455,137

  Assets (EOY)

  $333,860

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $472,253

  Expenses

  $451,054

  Assets (EOY)

  $250,677

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $476,038

  Assets (EOY)

  $236,151

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• MIGHTYCAUSE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $8,439

  2023 · UNRESTRICTED

• MINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION INC

  $6,250

  2023 · CLERKSHIP

• MINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION INC

  $6,250

  2022 · CLERKSHIP

• FREDRIKSON & BYRON FOUNDATION

  $6,000

  2022 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FREDRIKSON & BYRON FOUNDATION

  $6,000

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FREDRIKSON & BYRON FOUNDATION

  $6,000

  2024 · GENERAL SUPPORT

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