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Redefining public defense.

The Bronx Defenders Announcements

Detained Immigrants Sue ICE and NY Officials for Retaliation Against First Amendment Protected Protest

Retribution“swift and crushing” at Orange County Jail after speaking out against brutality, racist abuse, medical neglect  Contact:  Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, (646) 397-8069, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org Jen Nessel, Center for Constitutional Rights, (212) 614-6449, jnessel@ccrjustice.org  Kaye Dyja, New York Civil Liberties Union, (212) 607-3372, kdyja@nyclu.org  April 4, 2023, New York – Federal and local officials…

The Bronx Defenders Calls on the State Legislature to Reject the Governor’s Bail Proposal and Protect Thousands of New Yorkers from Pre-Trial Torture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – On Friday, one day before the New York State budget is due, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement following reports that the Governor is holding up the budget process over her insistence on changing the state’s bail laws to jail more New Yorkers:…

Judge Rules NYPD Must Overhaul Its Systems To End Its Unlawful Use of Sealed Arrest Records

Ruling restores privacy and presumption of innocence to millions of New Yorkers    Media Contact: Michael Paul Jackson, @mjackson@bronxdefenders.org   NEW YORK — Today, a Manhattan judge ruled that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) must overhaul its technological systems to end its practice of illegally accessing and using sealed arrest records, restoring privacy and the…

Statement on Proposals to Expand Criminalization of Poverty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org NEW YORK —  Today, The Bronx Defenders released the following statement in response to proposals by the industry advocacy group Collective Action to Protect our Stores to expand criminalization in response to concerns about safety and theft: “Everyone has a right to be safe and…

Public Defenders and Civil Legal Services Providers Call for Increased Funding to Ensure High Quality Representation and Other Critical Services for Low-Income New Yorkers

(NEW YORK, NY) – New York’s leading public defender and civil legal service providers called for increased funding in the City budget, highlighting the dire impact underfunding has wrought on their ability to meet the needs of low-income New Yorkers. Not only have chronic underfunding and contracting issues led to widespread attrition, but if unaddressed…

Joint Statement in Response to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams State of the City Address Remarks on Funding for Public Defender, Civil Legal Services Organizations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK — The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, Queens Defenders, Legal Services NYC, Mobilization for Justice, New York Legal Assistance Group, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, Urban Justice Center, NMIC and CAMBA Legal Services, TakeRoot Justice released the…

The Bronx Defenders Files Suits Against the NYPD and the City of New York for Abuse and Violence Against Black and Brown Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Media Contacts:   Michael Paul Jackson, @mjackson@bronxdefenders.org    NEW YORK — Today, The Bronx Defenders filed two lawsuits on behalf of clients challenging police violence and aggression toward Black and brown people. With these cases—and more to come soon—the Impact Litigation Practice is helping clients of The Bronx Defenders demand respect for their fundamental civil…

Bronx Cannabis Hub Celebrates Opening of First Cannabis Dispensary by a Hub-assisted Individual in New York State

CONTACTS:  Anthony Chiarito, media@bronxdefenders.org, 646-610-1936  Matt Sollars, matt@anatgerstein.com, 347-925-0101  Bronx Cannabis Hub Celebrates Opening of First Cannabis Dispensary by a Hub-assisted Individual in New York State  The Bronx, NY – On Tuesday, Smacked Village – which is owned and operated by Roland Conner and his family – became the first cannabis dispensary to open in…

New York Immigrant Family Unity Project Statement on Massive ICE Data Leak

Contacts:  Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, media@bronxdefenders.org Dan Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org  Alejandra Lopez, The Legal Aid Society, AILopez@legal-aid.org ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** New York Immigrant Family Unity Project Statement on Massive ICE Data Leak Immigration Legal Providers Call for Release of Affected Individuals; Reaffirm Call for End of ICE Detention (New York, NY) –…

The Bronx Defenders Updated Statement in Response to the Mayor’s New Directive for Involuntary Mental Health Removals

Contact Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, media@bronxdefenders.org ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  The Bronx Defenders Updated Statement in Response to the Mayor’s New Directive for Involuntary Mental Health Removals December 2, 2022 (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders issued the following updated statement following the Mayor’s announcement on Tuesday of a new directive which empowers the NYPD and other…

Advocates and Impacted Families Renew Call for Family Miranda Rights Legislation After Uncovered ACS Report Reveals It Knew of Its Own Discriminatory Practices

Contacts: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, media@bronxdefenders.org Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org Shannon Anglero, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, sanglero@neighborhooddefender.org Diana Denza, Center for Family Representation, ddenza@cfrny.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 22, 2022 (NEW YORK, NY)— Today, the New York Times reported on a Freedom of Information Law request by The Bronx Defenders, which…

The Bronx Cannabis Hub Successfully Helps 30 People Directly Impacted by the War on Drugs Apply for the First Round of Cannabis Dispensary Licenses in New York

October 5, 2022  CONTACTS: The Bronx Defenders, media@bronxdefenders.org  The Bronx Cannabis Hub Successfully Helps 30 People Directly Impacted by the War on Drugs Apply for the First Round of Cannabis Dispensary Licenses in New York Bronx, New York – The Bronx Cannabis Hub – a project of The Bronx Defenders in partnership with The Bronx Community Foundation – is…

The Bronx Defenders Announces 25th Anniversary Gala to Celebrate a Quarter Century of Radically Reimagining Justice

 September 13, 2022  ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  CONTACTS: The Bronx Defenders, media@bronxdefenders.org  The Bronx Defenders Announces 25th Anniversary Gala to Celebrate a Quarter Century of Radically Reimagining Justice  Bronx, New York – On October 13, 2022, from 6 – 9:30 PM, The Bronx Defenders will celebrate their 25th  Anniversary Gala at Tribeca 360°.   The Bronx Defenders…

NYIFUP Providers Condemn ICE’s Reckless and Dangerous Transfers from Orange County Correctional Facility, Demand Immediate Release of All People from the Facility

July 25, 2022 CONTACTS: Alejandra Lopez, The Legal Aid Society, 917-294-9348, ailopez@legal-aid.org Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, 646-610-1936, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, 646-995-0537, dball@bds.org NYIFUP Providers Condemn ICE’s Reckless and Dangerous Transfers from Orange County Correctional Facility, Demand Immediate Release of All People from the Facility (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders,…

Joint Public Defender Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen

June 23, 2022 Contacts: The Bronx Defenders: media@bronxdefenders.org Brooklyn Defender Services: mediarequests@bds.org   ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Joint Public Defender Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (New York, NY) – Black Attorneys of Legal Aid, The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Monroe County Public Defender, Ontario…

Statewide Family Defense Advocates Lay Out Legislative Agenda for 2022

Contacts: Mai Tran, The Bronx Defenders: mtran@bronxdefenders.org, (718) 508-3514 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Statewide Family Defense Advocates Lay Out Legislative Agenda for 2022  Defenders Call on Albany to Shrink the State’s Foster System, Deepen Support for New York Families, and Increase Funding for Family Defense (New York, NY) – In a recently issued letter, 21 family defense…

Public Defenders Across the Country Call on DOJ to Investigate Texas’ Unconstitutional “Operation Lone Star”

Contacts: Arianna Rosales, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), arianna@nipnlg.org Carolina Chau, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, media@ilrc.org  Mai Tran, The Bronx Defenders, mtran@bronxdefenders.org, (718) 508-3514  ***For Immediate Release***  Public Defenders Across the Country Call on DOJ to Investigate Texas’ Unconstitutional “Operation Lone Star”    (NEW YORK, NY) — The Public Defenders Coalition for Immigrant Justice and 14 public defender offices…

NYC Defenders Urge New York Lawmakers to Reject Governor Hochul’s Mass Incarceration Plan in the State Budget

Media Contacts:  Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders (CNguyen@bronxdefenders.org) Redmond Haskins, The Legal Aid Society (RHaskins@legal-aid.org) Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services (Dball@bds.org) Lupe Todd-Medina, New York County Defender Services (ltoddmedina@nycds.org) Emily Whitfield, The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (ewhitfield@ndsny.org) Hettie Powell, Queens Defenders (hpowell@queensdefenders.org)  ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  NYC Defenders Urge New York Lawmakers to Reject Governor…

The Bronx Defenders Statement in Response to Governor Hochul’s Proposed 10-Point Safety Plan

Contact: Chi Nguyen cnguyen@bronxdefenders.org 347-842-2943 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  The Bronx Defenders Statement in Response to Governor Hochul’s Proposed 10-Point Safety Plan   (THE BRONX, NY) – Justine Olderman, Executive Director at The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement in response to reporting on Governor Hochul’s proposed amendments to bail reform, discovery, and “Raise the Age” laws: …

Settlement Secures Right to Consideration of Release for People Arrested by ICE in New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2022 MEDIA CONTACTS: Ben Schaefer, bschaefer@nyclu.org, 212-607-3372 Chi Nguyen, cnguyen@bronxdefenders.org, 347-842-2943 Settlement Secures Right to Consideration of Release for People Arrested by ICE in New York   ICE agrees to provide individualized custody determinations, abandoning a no-release policy implemented during Trump Administration  NEW YORK CITY – The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)…

NYIFUP Statement in Response to the Removal of Two Orange County Corrections Officers from the ICE Detainee Unit at Orange County Correctional Facility

February 24, 2022 Contacts: Alejandra Lopez, The Legal Aid Society, AILopez@legal-aid.org, 917-294-9348 Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders, cnguyen@bronxdefenders.org, 347-842-2943 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYIFUP Statement in Response to the Removal of Two Orange County Corrections Officers from the ICE Detainee Unit at Orange County Correctional Facility  Attorneys Demand Release of…

NYC Defenders Call on State Lawmakers to Reject Mayor Adams’ Demand to Add a Discriminatory “Dangerousness” Provision to New York’s Bail Statute

February 9, 2022 Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders (CNguyen@bronxdefenders.org) Redmond Haskins, The Legal Aid Society (RHaskins@legal-aid.org) Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services (Dball@bds.org) Lupe Todd-Medina, New York County Defender Services (LToddmedina@nycds.org) Sam McCann, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (SMccann@ndsny.org) Hettie Powell, Queens Defenders (hpowell@queensdefenders.org)  ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  NYC Defenders Call on State Lawmakers to Reject Mayor…

NYIFUP Statement on Client Reports of a Widespread COVID-19 Outbreak in New York Jail Impacting Immigrants in ICE Detention

January 27, 2022 Contacts:  Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders, cnguyen@bronxdefenders.org Alejandra Lopez, The Legal Aid Society, AILopez@legal-aid.org Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org    ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYIFUP Statement on Client Reports of a Widespread COVID-19 Outbreak in New York Jail Impacting Immigrants in ICE Detention  Attorneys Condemn Orange County Correctional Facility’s Failure to Protect…

Defenders Call On President Biden to Visit Rikers Island During Next Week’s Visit to New York City

January 26, 2022 Redmond Haskins, The Legal Aid Society (RHaskins@legal-aid.org) Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services (Dball@bds.org) Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders (CNguyen@bronxdefenders.org) Lupe Todd-Medina, New York County Defender Services (LToddmedina@nycds.org) Sam McCann, The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (SMccann@ndsny.org) Hettie Powell, Queens Defenders (hpowell@queensdefenders.org)  ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Defenders Call On President Biden to Visit Rikers…

NYC Defender Joint Statement in Response to Mayor Adams’ Remarks on Gun Violence

January 24, 2022  Chi Nguyen, The Bronx Defenders (CNguyen@bronxdefenders.org) Redmond Haskins, The Legal Aid Society (RHaskins@legal-aid.org) Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services (Dball@bds.org) Sam McCann, The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (SMccann@ndsny.org) Hettie Powell, Queens Defenders (hpowell@queensdefenders.org) ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYC Defender Joint Statement in Response to Mayor Adams’ Remarks on Gun Violence (NEW YORK, NY)…