NYC Public Defenders Joint Statement on DOI Investigation of Wrongly Recorded Phone Calls in NYC Jails
Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, (AChiarito@bronxdefenders.org) (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Legal Aid Society, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, New York County Defender Services, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement in response to a new report released by the New York City Department of Investigation on…
New York City Public Defenders Joint Statement on New York’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
(NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement on New York’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget: “Governor Hochul and the Legislature’s decision to yet again rollback New York’s bail laws, eliminating the…
The Bronx Defenders Statement on the Governor’s Announcement to Weaken NY’s Bail Laws in the State Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – Following last night’s announcement by the Governor on a “conceptual agreement” on the State budget that includes changes to the bail laws, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “Governor Hochul’s efforts to strip the ‘least restrictive means’ language from New…
State Lawmakers Must Stop the Governor’s Plan to Send More People to Die on Rikers Island
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – As State lawmakers return to Albany and Governor Hochul attempts to rollback bail and discovery reform yet again through the State budget process, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “The Governor’s attempt to rollback bail and discovery reform is deeply disturbing and should be called…
State Lawmakers Must Halt 11th Hour Attempt to Rollback Discovery Laws, Preventing Accused New Yorkers from Seeing the Evidence Against Them
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement following reports that Governor Hochul and New York City’s District Attorneys are proposing changes to the discovery reform law passed in 2019: “Not satisfied with trying to roll back bail reform to make it easier to jail more…
The Bronx Defenders Condemns Governor Hochul’s Continued Delay of the Budget to Jail More New Yorkers Pre-Trial
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – After watching the New York State budget deadline come and go, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “Once again, the budget is late because our Governor is insisting on changes to our bail law that would lead to thousands of New Yorkers being jailed…
Inmigrantes Detenidos Demandan a Funcionarios de ICE y de Nueva York por Represalias Contra Protesta Protegida por la Primera Enmienda
Retribución “rápida y aplastante” en la cárcel del Condado de Orange después de hablar en contra de la brutalidad, el abuso racista y la negligencia medica Contacto: Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, (646) 397-8069, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org Jen Nessel, Centro para los Derechos Constitucionales, (212) 614-6449, jnessel@ccrjustice.org Kaye Dyja, Unión de Libertades Civiles de Nueva York,…
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…