Racial Disparity Project

The Defender Association is a non-profit corporation that provides public defense to indigent clients in King County, Washington. The RDP is a grant-funded project that has existed within The Defender Association since 1999. The RDP’s mission is:

(1) To reduce racial disparity in the criminal justice system through community organizing, policy advocacy, individual representation, public education, research and, when appropriate, litigation;

(2) To reduce the harm caused by national and local drug policies to communities of color and individuals within those communities; and

(3) To provide technical assistance to community partners working to achieve those

goals.