Category: In the News
The Riverdale Press: Amid protests, budget cuts, crime rises in 5-0
“But that’s an unfair claim, said Eli Northrup, criminal defense policy counsel at the Bronx Defenders, a public defender nonprofit. “If anything, bail reform in the last month has been rolled back,” Northrup said. “I don’t think there’s any evidence that bail reform has anything to do with this. If you look, crime is actually […]
Politico: Protesters unable to retrieve property seized during mass arrests, lawyers say
“The attorneys’ group says NYPD property seizures have been a problem for years — made worse by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting shutdowns, and further exacerbated by the chaos surrounding the protests. “The police have an incredible responsibility for safeguarding and accounting for people’s property. It’s a constitutional right that you can’t be deprived of […]
Legal Services Staff Association: Multi-Union Legal Services Statement In Opposition to the Reopening of Housing Court
“We are unionized legal services unions and workers who represent tenants in New York City’s housing courts. Today, people of all walks of life are participating in a righteous uprising that demands an end to state-sanctioned violence against Black lives. In conjunction with this uprising, communities are renewing their demands for programs and policies that […]
CityBizList: NYC Public Defenders Call on New York Court System to Delay Opening of Courts for Safety of Staff and Clients
“The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Queens Defenders, and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem issued a letter to New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks requesting that the Court continue remote appearances and abandon its proposal to recommence in-person appearances until […]
New York Law Journal: Public Defenders Call on NY Courts to Reconsider In-Person Appearances During Reopening Process
“A group of public defender organizations in New York City objected Thursday to the planned return of in-person court proceedings for nonemergency matters, which was announced Tuesday by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks. In the letter, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders, the New York County Defender Services, the Queens Defenders […]
BronxNet: Stronger Together Running Protest
“Local running crews assemble at Poe Park in the Bronx for a Stronger Together running protest to motivate the community to help impact positive change and rally for social justice. Nova Church of Bronx Sole, running activist Power Malu, and the community of runners support one another, engage in dialogue and meet The Bronx Defenders, […]
Gothamist: What The New Rollbacks To Bail Reform Mean In New York
“Someone who commits a felony while on probation or parole can no longer be released automatically. The same goes for someone with at least two prior felony convictions who is arrested for a new felony. Scott Levy, chief policy counsel for Bronx Defenders, said that’s overly punitive. “What this really does is penalize and punish […]
WNYC: What the New Rollbacks to Bail Reform Mean in New York
“Just six months ago, New York state eliminated cash bail for almost all offenses except violent felonies. But there was an immediate backlash after the NYPD claimed the crime rate was going up. There were also constant media reports about cases in which people were re-arrested after being released without bail, notably one involving a woman who punched Orthodox Jewish […]
ABC News: Blacks account for nearly half of all NYC arrests 6 years after end of stop-and-frisk: NYPD data
“There are other just as nefarious, just as racially-biased practices that have filled the void. Unless you’re really going to start at the roots of the problem, you’re going to end up in the same place,” said Ann Mathews, managing director of the criminal defense practice for The Bronx Defenders, a city public defenders office. […]
ConnectRadio.FM: Blacks comprise nearly half of all NYC arrests despite reforms: NYPD data
“While the good news is that if arrests are down by roughly half in New York, then that means that only half as many African Americans are being arrested as well as for other racial groups, too.”But Ann Mathews of The Bronx Defenders said that while she welcomes police reform efforts, “what is clear is […]