LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) — From the courtroom to neighborhoods, one local group has spent the last 45 years fighting to save thousands of young lives.
Avenues for Justice, which started on the Lower East Side, intervenes to stop teens and young adults from entering and returning to jail.
The 15th floor of the Manhattan Criminal Courts building has seen intensity and chaos from the trials of former President Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, but down the hallway, for nearly four decades, there’s a quiet space of hope.
“Right now, we’re dealing with about 500 kids a year,” said Avenues of Justice co-founder and President Angel Rodriguez.
Avenue for Justice serves as a legal liaison, offering a second chance for inner-city youth. Rodriguez is the co-founder.
“Sometimes we surrendered the kid who we knew the cops were looking for, then later went to arraignments and said to a judge if I can bring …