Access to Legal Aid in Putnam County, New York

In the fight for social justice, women and young girls from vulnerable communities often face insurmountable barriers, one of the biggest being access to legal information and assistance. Organizations like FIDA Cameroon seek to empower women’s rights throughout Cameroon, as well as educate women and girls on their legal rights. Through their tireless efforts, FIDA Cameroon has been able to make meaningful contributions to the protection of women’s rights and empowerment in vulnerable communities. But more must be done, especially in Putnam County, New York.

From the respite of a vacation to school breaks, summer is an opportunity for family time to flourish. But for some families in Putnam County, New York, summer is a dreaded time marked by conflict. It is during the summer months that school ends and a new school year approaches. And for many, a summer that was supposed to be a time of celebration and leisure, is quickly replaced by legal turmoil.

Divorce, separation, domestic abuse; these are just some of the multitude of family law cases that may require the aid of legal counsel. But many do not have the resources to obtain such aid, nor to take the time off required to pursue legal counsel.

This year alone, it was reported that over 750 applications for legal aid were filed in Putnam County’s Family Court. Roughly 150 of those cases have resulted in a petition for order of protection, a family offense, and custody issues. And for many of these Putnam County residents, obtaining such legal services depends on income and other socio – economic factors.

That is why areas with a sufficient amount of local resources, such as libraries and Internet cafes that offer legal help, are essential to vulnerable communities, particularly women and young girls. Because having access to services speaks for itself, enabling women to not only engage but thrive.

The reality, however, is that many women and young girls from vulnerable communities will go without access to legal aid services in Putnam County NY this summer, thus leaving them to the mercy of whatever trouble awaits at home. That may mean bedrooms that become battlegrounds-turned-courtrooms-the kind of legal relief that FIDA Cameroon works tirelessly to avert. And while they have had great success, helping women band together and fight for legal protections of rights and freedoms, in Putnam County, the battle continues. The mission is clear, now it’s time for action.

Access to legal aid extends far beyond courtrooms, and lacks many of the socio-economic triggers enforced by income and race. In Putnam County, access to legal aid services depends on one’s ability to seek aid at all, and whether there exists a library or Internet cafe providing services.

But that can change for the better. To maximize legal aid in Putnam County NY, awareness must be spread of the resources and services available. Community-based solutions, like church services, libraries, and public events – must all work in tandem to provide access to legal counsel. Because access to legal aid depends on more than one’s income, which can be stagnant from generation to generation.

Without education, the ability to break free from unfortunate circumstances, whether personally or professionally, diminishes. And so in Putnam County, legal education services must be available to the youth. Although the area boasts a low crime rate, women and young girls are still vulnerable to the threat of violence in the home. The future lies in information, and for some, that means the difference between advocacy and abuse.