| ArchCity Defenders | |
| Founders: | Thomas Harvey, Michael-John Voss, and John McAnnar |
| Type: | Non-profit |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Purpose: | Combat the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color |
| Location City: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Services: | Civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration |
| Method: | --> |
| Field: | --> |
| Languages: | --> |
| Owners: | --> |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Blake Strode |
| Awards: | Thomas Merton Award |
| Website: | archcitydefenders.org |
ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a legal advocacy organization in St. Louis, Missouri.
ArchCity Defenders was co-founded by three graduates of St. Louis University School of Law in 2009, modeled after The Bronx Defenders, to address gaps in civic and criminal justice services.[1] ACD primarily operated on volunteer service and donated office space. They expanded operations in 2013 through a contract from mayor Francis Slay's initiative to end chronic homelessness.[2]
In 2017, Blake Strode was named the new executive director after two years on staff through the Skadden Fellowship.
In 2018, ACD was awarded the Thomas Merton Award.[3]
Between 2015 and 2018, ACD filed class action lawsuits against seven cities in St. Louis County for civil rights violations, reaching a settlement of over $20 million.[4] Lawsuits describe the violations as a debtors' prison scheme in which plaintiffs were charged with minor infractions and held in prison when unable to pay cash bail without due process.[5] In 2024, ACD produced a report on St. Louis municipal courts demonstrating the impact of reforms and presenting an argument for court consolidation.
In 2018–2020, ACD participated in the Close the Workhouse campaign.[6]