Nonprofit · EIN 86-1981490
PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER
Tax-exempt · SANTA ANA, CA 92701
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $273,975 | $353,335 | -$79,360 | $265,762 | $0 | $265,762 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $262,696 | $327,911 | -$65,215 | $345,122 | $0 | $345,122 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $585,167 | $209,966 | $375,201 | $410,337 | $0 | $410,337 |
| December 31, 2021 | 990-EZ (amended) | $196,996 | $93,028 | $103,968 | $122,502 | $18,534 | $103,968 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $109,366
- of which government grants
- $6,366
- Program service revenue
- $162,373
- Investment income
- $2,236
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $184,029
- Other salaries and wages
- $87,749
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $296,684
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $4,880
- Occupancy
- $16,912
- Travel
- $709
- Program services (functional)
- $299,000
- Management and general (functional)
- $43,011
- Fundraising (functional)
- $11,324
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $345,122
- Total assets, end of year
- $265,762
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $265,762
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $265,762
- Gross receipts
- $273,975
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Garcia-Leys | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer, Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $168,961 |
| Pat Palma | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Vanessa Cerda | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Garcia-Leys | Co-Executive Director Trustee or director, Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $109,999 |
| Ameena Qazi | Co-Executive Director Trustee or director, Key employee | 20 | $52,615 |
| Keiko Elizabeth | Board President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Jody Vallejo | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Jesse Engel | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Patrick Palma | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Theresa Smith | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Laura Hernandez | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Garcia-Leys | Co-Executive Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $114,654 |
| Patrick Palma | President, Board of Directors Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Jesse Engel | Treasurer, Board of Directors Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Belinda Escobosa | Secretary, Board of Directors Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Keiko Elizabeth | Member, Board of Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jody Vallejo | Member, Board of Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Theresa Smith | Member, Board of Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Monica Nguyen | Member, Board of Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Laura Hernandez | Member, Board of Directors Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2021: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Garcia-Leys | Co-Executive Director, Board President, Director, Employee | 40 | $67,396 |
| Ameena Qazi | Co-Executive Director, Director, Employee | 20 | $0 |
| Jesse Engel | Board Treasurer, Director | 1 | $0 |
| Patrick Palma | Board Secretary, Director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 600 W SANTA ANA BLVD STE 810, SANTA ANA, CA 92701-4554
- In care of
- % SEAN GARCIA-LEYS
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Sean Garcia-Leys, 600 W Santa Ana Blvd 810, Santa Ana, CA 92701
- Signed the 990
- Sean Garcia-Leys, Executive Director
- Phone
- (323) 490-2412
- Website
- www.pjlawcenter.org
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 86-1981490 or by the name PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
To advance community safety and constitutional rights, including the causes of equal protection under the law and the advancement of First Amendment rights, exclusively for charitable and educational purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Program accomplishments
- The organization's largest program service by expense is its Human and Civil Rights Defense Program. Through public-interest litigation, legal advocacy, and related pro bono legal assistance, the program protects civil rights, promotes government accountability, combats discrimination, and advances public safety and community well-being. Most clients are indigent individuals or nonprofit organizations and have no financial interest in the outcome of the litigation. Attorney fees are sought only when authorized by applicable fee-shifting statutes and are payable by opposing parties rather than clients. In 2025, the organization concluded Chicanxs Unidxs v. Spitzer, a public-records action brought on behalf of three nonprofit organizations seeking prosecutorial records necessary to enforce the California Racial Justice Act. The litigation advanced public access to government information and efforts to eliminate racial discrimination in the criminal legal system. Attorney fees were awarded pursuant to the fee-shifting provisions of the California Public Records Act. The organization also continued litigation challenging Orange County's longstanding gang-injunction practices in People v. Townsend Street. The litigation seeks injunctive relief to reduce discriminatory enforcement practices, protect constitutional rights, and limit reliance on punitive strategies that destabilize communities and contribute to youth involvement in the criminal legal system. The organization represented multiple indigent defendants without charge. No attorney fees were sought for this work in 2025. The organization also continued litigating ACLU v. Inglewood Police Department, a public-records action seeking disclosure of police-misconduct records. The litigation promotes government transparency, police accountability, and enforcement of civil rights protections. No attorney fees were awarded in 2025. The organization also engaged in non-litigation work. The organization represented the unincorporated association Los Amigos de Orange County in pre-litigation discussions with a third party threatening a defamation lawsuit. The representation supported community advocacy and the exercise of constitutional rights and was provided without charge. The organization also advised the nonprofit organization Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice regarding legal issues arising from its immigration-court observation program. This work was provided without charge and advanced the protection of civil rights and public participation in the justice system. During 2025, the organization concluded one major litigation matter, continued two additional public-interest lawsuits, represented three nonprofit organizations, multiple indigent defendants, one unincorporated association, and one nonprofit organization in advisory matters, all without charge to the clients. Through these litigation and advisory matters, the organization advanced civil rights, promoted government transparency and accountability, and provided legal services without charge to individuals and nonprofit organizations engaged in public-interest activities.Expenses $136,687 · grants $14,300 · revenue $162,373
- The organization's second largest program service by expense is its Education and Public-Interest Information Program. Through community education, professional training, coalition facilitation, policy research, and public-interest communications, the program advances public understanding of civil rights, criminal justice, youth justice, community safety, and government transparency. All activities in this program are conducted without charge. During 2025, the organization continued to lead joint meetings of the Decriminalizing Neighborhoods Network and the California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice. These statewide coalitions meet regularly to examine and promote public-health approaches to reducing community violence and state violence, with a particular focus on youth. In 2025, the organization led a two-day webinar for gang intervention workers on how to protect themselves from false accusations of continued gang involvement. Through these coalition and training activities, the organization promoted public education, shared research on community safety, and supported nonpunitive violence-prevention strategies. In 2025, the organization also launched a public educational website that evaluates and tracks developments affecting democratic institutions, civil liberties, government accountability, and the rule of law in the United States. The website provides research, analysis, and educational materials designed to help members of the public better understand emerging threats to constitutional governance and civil rights protections. This work advanced public education and informed civic engagement regarding issues of broad public concern. The organization also worked to educate the public and policymakers about law enforcement gang databases. In 2025, the organization published one policy brief on gang databases for California state legislators, participated in multiple media interviews and news stories on the issue, and published one op-ed. This work advanced public education, government accountability, and efforts to reduce prejudice and discrimination in law enforcement practices.Expenses $128,143 · grants $64,950
- The organization's third largest program service is a violence-reduction legal-services program for individuals transitioning out of gang involvement or affected by gang-suppression enforcement. The program is funded through California's CalVIP initiative and is designed to evaluate whether addressing civil legal barriers can support successful community reintegration and reduce violence. Through direct legal services and coordination with community-based service providers, the program promotes public safety, reduces community deterioration, and helps participants overcome barriers to economic stability and lawful participation in community life. The program addresses legal issues that can impede successful reintegration, including gang injunctions, diversion-program navigation, driver's license holds, wage garnishments, child-support arrears, and immigration-related matters. During 2025, the organization maintained an active caseload of approximately 9 to 14 participants at any given time, with participants receiving services for approximately one year on average. Services included outreach to individuals exiting gangs, comprehensive legal assessments, direct representation in civil and administrative matters, and referrals to partner organizations for non-legal support services. The program also incorporates structured data collection and independent evaluation to assess outcomes, including reductions in arrests, new criminal charges, and probation violations compared with a control group. Findings from the project are intended to inform the development of evidence-based violence-reduction strategies and expand the availability of effective legal-service interventions for communities affected by gang violence.Expenses $34,170 · grants $18,866
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 86-1981490
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I83)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $265,762
- Income (IRS master file)
- $273,975
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $273,975 | $353,335 | $265,762 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $262,696 | $327,911 | $345,122 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $585,167 | $209,966 | $410,337 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $92,474 | $176,744 | $25,867 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | $196,996 | $93,028 | $122,502 | XML |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 86-1981490).
Questions about PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER
- What is the EIN of PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER is 86-1981490.
- Is PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Sean Garcia-Leys.
- Who are the officers and directors of PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 3 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $168,961 (Sean Garcia-Leys, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW CENTER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $273,975, expenses of $353,335 and total assets of $265,762 at year end.
Other nonprofits in SANTA ANA
- ORANGEWOOD FOUNDATION EIN 95-3616628 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COMMUNITY LEGAL AID SOCAL EIN 95-1994337 · last filed 990 for 2026
- THE PRIORITY CENTER ENDING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF TRAUMA INC EIN 33-0013237 · last filed 990 for 2025
- PUBLIC LAW CENTER EIN 95-3709253 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFFS ADVISORY COUNCIL EIN 95-3498487 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ORANGE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION EIN 23-7068923 · last filed 990 for 2024
- AMERICA ON TRACK EIN 33-0724044 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ACCOUNTABILITY BROTHERS INC EIN 47-1485550 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in SANTA ANA · California · Crime and legal-related