Huge Class Certified in Case Against NYPD Sets Up Mass Reforms to Surveillance Databases
Huge Class Certified in Case Against NYPD Sets Up Mass Reforms to Surveillance Databases Decision Means That NYPD will have to turn over information on how it uses millions of sealed arrest records FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2019 NEW YORK – A judge today certified a class in a lawsuit brought by The Bronx…
Bronx Defenders’ Revised Statement on the Closing of Rikers Island and the Creation of Borough-Based Jails
The Bronx Defenders strongly supports closing Rikers Island and the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center (“the Boat”). The conditions within these facilities are inhumane and there is no solution but to permanently close them. We, nevertheless, retract our original statement that supported replacing Rikers and the Boat with borough-based jails and have decided that we…
The Bronx Defenders Oppose ABA Resolution 114
The Bronx Defenders is a public defender nonprofit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system. Every year, we defend thousands of New Yorkers who come into contact with the criminal legal system, and we are committed to ending mass incarceration crisis in our communities and beyond. …
The Road Ahead
Over the last two decades, our advocates have radically transformed the landscape of public defense: from representing people facing criminal prosecution when we first opened our doors to standing with our clients in family court, in immigration court, in housing court, and beyond. And in the past few years, we have stepped up our demands…
NYIFUP Statement On Continued Air Conditioning Issues At Bergen County Jail Amid NYC Area Heat Wave
July 10, 2019 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYIFUP STATEMENT ON CONTINUED AIR CONDITIONING ISSUES AT BERGEN COUNTY JAIL AMID NYC AREA HEAT WAVE (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders, The Legal Aid Society, and Brooklyn Defender Services – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) to detained immigrants with…
NYIFUP Statement On Reports that Quarantine for Mumps at ICE Bergen County Jail Has Been Extended
July 8, 2019 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYIFUP STATEMENT ON REPORTS THAT QUARANTINE FOR MUMPS AT ICE BERGEN COUNTY JAIL HAS BEEN EXTENDED (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) to…
The Bronx Defenders Celebrates Transition of Still She Rises Tulsa to Independent Nonprofit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2019 TULSA – Still She Rises, Tulsa announced today their official transition from its parent organization, the Bronx Defenders, to its new status as an independent nonprofit. Justine Olderman, Executive Director of the Bronx Defenders, and Aisha McWeay, Executive Director of Still She Rises, Tulsa, released the following joint statement: …
Press Release: Family Advocacy Initiative Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2019 CONTACT Ryan Karerat, The Bronx Defenders, rkarerat@bronxdefenders.org, (347) 842-1251 Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org (347) 592 -2579 Sam McCann, Neighborhood Defender Service, smccann@ndsny.org, (212) 316-7399 Anne Conroy, Center for Family Representation, aconroy@cfrny.org, (646) 276-5634 NEW YORK – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem…
On Juneteenth, NYC Defenders Call for Legislature to Deliver Justice to Communities Impacted By Marijuana Laws, Say Recently Proposed Legislation Falls Short
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** ON JUNETEENTH, NYC DEFENDERS CALL FOR LEGISLATURE TO DELIVER JUSTICE TO COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY MARIJUANA LAWS, SAY RECENTLY PROPOSED LEGISLATION FALLS SHORT (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, and Neighborhood Defender Service say that recently-introduced legislation would fail to deliver justice to…
NYC Defenders Demand True Marijuana Justice, Call Recently Introduced Bill ‘Too Little Too Late’
June 17, 2019 Contact: Redmond Haskins, The Legal Aid Society (RHaskins@legal-aid.org) Lupe Todd-Medina, New York County Defender Services (Lupe@effectivemediastrategies.com) Jared Chausow, Brooklyn Defender Services (jchausow@bds.org) Ryan Karerat, The Bronx Defenders (rkarerat@bronxdefenders.org) Sam McCann, The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (smccann@ndsny.org) ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYC DEFENDERS DEMAND TRUE MARIJUANA JUSTICE, CALL RECENTLY INTRODUCED BILL ‘TOO LITTLE TOO LATE’ (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender…
NYC Defender Caseload Analysis: Hundreds Of New Yorkers Are Still Being Targeted For Marijuana Possession
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYC DEFENDER CASELOAD ANALYSIS: HUNDREDS OF NEW YORKERS ARE STILL BEING TARGETED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders, The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem released caseload data today showing that despite efforts to scale back policing and prosecution of low-level…
Runa Rajagopal Selected As Wasserstein Fellow
Runa Rajagopal, our Managing Director of the Civil Action Practice, was selected as a Wasserstein Fellow -The Program recognizes exemplary lawyers who have distinguished themselves in public interest work and who can assist students who are considering similar career paths This year they received over 130 nominations for just a few spots and Runa was…
Sarah Deri Oshiro Awarded Association’s Legal Services Award
Sarah Deri Oshiro, our Managing Director of the Immigration Practice, was awarded the Association’s Legal Services Award. She will be receiving her award at the Thirtieth Annual Legal Services Award presentation. The Awards will be held on Tuesday, June 25th at 4 p.m. at the Association. Please click here to register for the event.
Grass is Greener Film Screening
Weed. Marijuana. Grass. Pot. Whatever you prefer to call it, America’s relationship with cannabis is a complicated one. The Bronx Defenders invites you to Grass is Greener Film screening and panel discussion. Grass is Greener presents an unparalleled look at the racially biased history of the war on marijuana. As more and more states join…
NYIFUP Statement On Reporting That Over 200 Individuals Who Were Arrested Crossing Southern Border Are Now Detained At Local ICE Facilities
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** May 28, 2019 NYIFUP STATEMENT ON REPORTING THAT OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ARRESTED CROSSING SOUTHERN BORDER ARE NOW DETAINED AT LOCAL ICE FACILITIES (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant Family…
NYC Defenders Call On Albany To Enact Revised Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act
May 28, 2019 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** NYC DEFENDERS CALL ON ALBANY TO ENACT REVISED MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION ACT (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem called on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and Legislature leaders to enact…
Court Finds NYPD Can’t Use Sealed Arrest Information Without Obtaining Court Order
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2019 NEW YORK – A judge ruled today in a putative class action lawsuit filed by The Bronx Defenders and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP that the plain language of New York law prohibits the NYPD from using sealed arrest information in its possession for law enforcement purposes without…
Annual Block Party 2019
Join us for a day of fun activities at our BxD Annual Block Party. Meet us and let’s celebrate our community together. We’ll have food, beverages, games, music, performances, face painting, pony rides, resource tables with information for the community, and loads of festive activities. The block party will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019…
Joint Statement from NYIFUP Legal Providers on City Council Response Recommending $16.5 Million to Support Crucial Immigrant Legal Services
JOINT STATEMENT FROM NYIFUP LEGAL PROVIDERS ON CITY COUNCIL RESPONSE RECOMMENDING $16.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT CRUCIAL IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) to detained immigrants with pending…
Joint Statement: NYC Defenders Call on Judges, DAs to Implement Criminal Justice Reforms Immediately
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** April 5, 2019 NYC DEFENDERS CALL ON JUDGES, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO IMPLEMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL 2020 (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem released a joint statement today calling…
The Bronx Defenders Applauds Landmark Criminal Justice Reforms
The Bronx Defenders Applauds Landmark Criminal Justice Reforms Statement of Justine Olderman, Executive Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 1, 2019 Contact: Esther Kao, estherk@bronxdefenders.org, (718) 508-3404 (NEW YORK) The Bronx Defenders welcomes the historic passage of a state budget that includes provisions to eliminate cash bail for the vast majority of…
Joint Statement: New York’s Immigrant Legal Defenders Call on City for More Support to Fight Increased ICE Detention and Deportation
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** March 20, 2019 NEW YORK’S IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENDERS CALL ON CITY FOR MORE SUPPORT TO FIGHT INCREASED ICE DETENTION AND DEPORTATION (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP)…
Joint Statement: NYIFUP Legal Providers On ICE Advancing Varick Street Hearings Without Notice, Effectively Stripping Immigrants of Their Due Process Rights
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** March 12, 2019 JOINT STATEMENT FROM NYIFUP LEGAL PROVIDERS ON ICE ADVANCING VARICK STREET HEARINGS WITHOUT NOTICE, EFFECTIVELY STRIPPING IMMIGRANTS OF THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation through the New York Immigrant…
Joint Statement: Detained Immigrants and NYIFUP Providers Sue ICE
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** Detained Immigrants and New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) Providers Sue U.S. Government over Refusal to Produce Detained Immigrants In-Person for Deportation Hearings Lawsuit Seeks to Restore the Constitutional and Statutory Rights of Hundreds of Detained Immigrants by Ending ICE’s Blanket Use of Video Teleconferencing at Varick Street Immigration Court (NEW…
Letter to Mayor de Blasio: Safeguarding Children at the Time of Arrest
February 1, 2019 Dear Mayor de Blasio, We, a diverse group of human service providers, faith-based leaders, and advocates call on the leadership of New York City to immediately adopt a city-wide policy to safeguard children at the time of a parent’s arrest and provide all arresting officers with substantive training to minimize trauma to…