Legal Services & Public Policy
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
Legal Services
Providing free legal representation to survivors of sexual harm
CAASE provides individualized legal advice, consultation, and representation following and related to sexual harm. Their attorneys assist survivors in criminal and civil matters.
Upholding victim’s rights within the criminal justice system*
Accompanying victims to police and prosecutor interviews
Assisting with criminal records relief for survivors of sex trafficking
Representing survivors in civil litigation, including protective orders, employment and education matters, and Gender Violence Act claims
All of our legal services are free, regardless of income. We tailor our services to the needs of individuals and serve survivors of every sex, race, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, and immigration status.
Public Policy and Advocacy
Transforming systems’ responses to sexual harm
We advocate for local and statewide policies and legislation that expand options for survivors of sexual harm, hold perpetrators and systems accountable, curtail the criminalization of trauma behaviors, and prevent future violence.
Advocating for survivor-centered legislation on local and state levels
Working in coalitions with survivor-leaders and allies to address major systemic issues
Meeting with policymakers and elected officials
Educating voters on candidates’ positions on our issues
Engaging in strategic judicial reforms like amicus briefs
Community Engagement
Listening to, amplifying, and following survivors’ voices
We center communities most impacted by sexual harm. These efforts focus on committing time, space, and energy to listen to survivors so their experiences and expertise can inform our work and raise public awareness. For example, we are:
Inviting survivors to engage in, co-power and guide our work
Producing trauma-informed public programming and arts opportunities
Providing lectures and presentations to the public
Collaborating and connecting with allies and partners throughout Chicago
This work provides a platform for healing and creates a roadmap for change, bridging critical gaps between legislation and implementation. Listening to, amplifying, and following survivors’ voices
We center communities most impacted by sexual harm. These efforts focus on committing time, space, and energy to listen to survivors so their experiences and expertise can inform our work and raise public awareness. For example, we are:
Inviting survivors to engage in, co-power and guide our work
Producing trauma-informed public programming and arts opportunities
Providing lectures and presentations to the public
Collaborating and connecting with allies and partners throughout Chicago
This work provides a platform for healing and creates a roadmap for change, bridging critical gaps between legislation and implementation.
Prevention Education
Empowering youth in our community
We teach innovative, evidence-informed, and engaging curriculum across Chicago that empowers students to become active allies in the movement to end gender-based violence.
Participants in our prevention workshops learn to think critically about gender, consent, and boundaries. They’ll also be able to recognize the realities of the commercial sex trade and sex trafficking.
We reach students in grades 9-12, parents/guardians, school personnel, and professionals in the field. If you’re interested in bringing our workshops to your school or organization, please see the information below and click “Request Workshop.”
Life Span
Our legal program is staffed by a diverse staff of 15 attorneys, four paralegals and four criminal court advocates who have expertise and years of experience in contested family law cases and criminal court advocacy; distinguishing our program from any other in Illinois. We operate a number of innovative and collaborative programs specifically created to reach underserved populations.
Representation and advocacy is provided across Cook County including Chicago, Rolling Meadows, Bridgeview and Skokie courthouses, and is available in Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, Korean, Russian, and a number of other languages upon request.
Life Span Assists with the following:
Divorce and Parentage
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time (formerly called Custody and Visitation)
Child and Spousal Support
Other Family Law Cases, Including Post Decree Matters and Appellate Work
Immigration Legal Services
Legal Advocacy in Criminal Court
Legal Advocacy with Issues Stemming from Sexual Assault
Illlinois Crime Victims Compensation Act Advocacy
Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) Advocacy
Illinois Safe Homes Act Advocacy
Resilience
Survivors have a variety of legal options available to them after a sexual assault. Whether you need information and assistance regarding reporting to law enforcement, navigating your personal safety or how sexual assault has impacted your status as an employee, student or immigrant we are here to help. Legal advocacy services are available remotely by contacting 312-443-9603 or contact us here. Advocacy services are available in English and Spanish.
For information on legal options available to you please click here.
For information about a Civil No Contact Order (an enforceable court order that prohibits further contact by the person who harmed you), visit our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nncxNJnVK0U&feature=youtu.be.