Southern Center for Human Rights facts for kids
| Founded at | Atlanta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Type | non-profit organization |
| Purpose | civil and human rights |
| Location | |
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Key people
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Stephen Bright (former director and president) |
The Southern Center for Human Rights (often called SCHR) is a special group that works to make sure everyone is treated fairly in the justice system. They are like a team of lawyers who help people, especially those who are poor or in prison. Their main goal is to protect the basic rights and human rights of people in the Southern United States. They are based in Atlanta, Georgia.
What Does the Southern Center for Human Rights Do?
The Southern Center for Human Rights is a non-profit organization. This means they don't work to make money. Instead, they focus on helping people. They are a law firm that works for the public good.
They help people in the legal system in states like Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Their work is all about making sure people's rights are protected.
Making Sure Everyone Gets a Fair Chance
The SCHR helps people who are in prison. They check if the prison conditions are fair and follow the law. They also work to make sure that people who cannot afford a lawyer still get good legal help. This is very important so that everyone has a fair chance in court.
They even help people who are facing very serious charges. Sometimes, these people might not have anyone else to represent them. For example, in Alabama, the SCHR helps people on death row get legal support. Alabama is the only state that doesn't always provide this help automatically.
Important Work and Recognition
The Southern Center for Human Rights has been recognized for its important work. Stephen Bright, who used to lead the Center, was praised in 2001. A writer named Nat Hentoff wrote about him in a newspaper called the Village Voice.
In 2004, the Center was featured in an article in New York Times. This article talked about how important it is to treat all prisoners fairly. It compared the treatment of prisoners in Georgia to problems that happened at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. This showed how serious the Center's work is in protecting human rights.
