CGLA was established in 1973 to serve legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within the Cabrini Green community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and now recognized statewide leader in supporting low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal justice system. Any engagement with the criminal justice system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community’s quality of life. For this reason, their mission is to seek justice and mercy for those living in poverty by providing legal services that strengthen individual lives, families, and communities. They aim to proactively fill the void of legal representation, wraparound services, and advocacy for individuals affected by the criminal justice system.