New York City Public Defenders File Amicus Brief in Support of the New York City Council and Public Advocate’s Lawsuit to Invalidate Mayor’s Suspension of Ban on Solitary Confinement
(New York, NY) The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, New York County Defender Services, and Queens Defenders, represented by pro bono counsel Selendy Gay PLLC, filed an amicus brief in support of the New York City Council and Public Advocate’s lawsuit to invalidate Mayor Eric Adams’ emergency executive orders that…
City Council & Public Advocate File Lawsuit and PA, Council Members & Community Members Rally to Urge DOC to Implement Local Law 42 to End Solitary Confinement
Challenging the Mayor’s Illegal Executive Orders and With People Continuing to Suffer in Solitary Confinement, the Lawsuit and Rally Participants Urge DOC to Utilize Alternatives Proven to Reduce Violence and Better Protect People’s Health (New York, NY) – Today, the New York City Council and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams filed a lawsuit – with the…
NYC’s Leading Legal Service Providers Urge City to Correct Contract Payment Issues that Jeopardize Critical Housing and Immigration Representation for New Yorkers in Need
City’s Fraught Contracting Process is Pushing Non-Profits to the Brink of Collapse (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, NMIC, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), Legal Services NYC, CAMBA Legal Services, Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS), the Human Services Council, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, The Bronx Defenders,…
The Bronx Defenders and Unionized Staff Finalize New Collective Bargaining Agreement, Strengthening Zealous Representation in the Bronx
Contact: media@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY – After three months of bargaining, The Bronx Defenders and the union representing a majority of staff at the organization – the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys-UAW Local 2325 – have finalized a collective bargaining agreement that increases wages for all BxD employees, creates a fair and flexible hybrid work…
The BLOC and The Bronx Defenders Denounce the Rent Guidelines Board Decision to Increase Rents
Contact: media@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY — The Bronx Leadership & Organizing Center (BLOC) and The Bronx Defenders share Bronx tenants’ outrage over the recent decision of the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) to raise rents by 2.75% on 1-year leases and 5.25% on 2-year leases for rent stabilized apartments. In the Bronx, our communities are…
The Bronx Defenders Welcomes Juval O. Scott as its Next Executive Director
The Bronx, NY – The Bronx Defenders has announced the appointment of Juval O. Scott, a nationally-recognized leader in public defense, civil rights, and sentencing reform, as the next Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders. Juval will be the first African American and woman of color to lead the organization in its 27-year history. She…
New York Immigrant Family Unity Project Statement on ICE Severely Restricting Phone Access in Detention Facilities, Prompting Hunger Strikes
(New York, NY) – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Legal Aid Society – New York City’s defender organizations providing free legal representation to detained immigrants through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) – issued the following statement in response to the sudden termination of the free call minutes program at…
NYC Family Defenders Welcome NY Advisory Committee Report; Urge NYS to Implement Its Recommendations
Defenders Reaffirm Call for Legislature to Enact Four Bills that Empower Families Before the End of Session New York, NY – On Tuesday May 28, the New York Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a report “Examining the New York Child Welfare System and its Impact on Black Children and Families.”…
Human Rights and Immigrants’ Rights Organizations Sue ICE And GEO Group For Physically Assaulting and Abusing Immigrant While Detained
Washington, D.C. – Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), and The Bronx Defenders sued Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the GEO Group, a private prison company, under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Angel Argueta Anariba, a 46-year-old Honduran immigrant who has lived…
NYC Public Defenders File Class Action Lawsuit Against the Department of Correction Over Unlawful Mass Surveillance System
Media Contacts: Michael Paul Jackson, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – On behalf of incarcerated New Yorkers, as well as the community members they speak with on the telephone, The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, New York County Defender Services, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP filed a class action lawsuit Monday evening against the…
New York City Public Defenders’ Joint Statement on Lawsuits Filed Against the Department of Correction Alleging Sexual Abuse on Rikers Island
(New York) – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Legal Aid Society, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, New York County Defender Services, and Queens Defenders released the following joint statement in response to reporting in Gothamist concerning 719 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse in New York City jails under the Adult Survivors Act: “The harms detailed in these…
The Bronx Defenders Hosts Fifth Annual Community Day of Action in Albany to Redefine Public Safety
The Bronx Defenders Joined Community Activists and Elected Officials to Rally for the Passage of Treatment Not Jail, Informed Consent, New York for All, and others Contact: Michael Paul Jackson, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY – The Bronx Defenders traveled to Albany today with community leaders, supporters, and advocates to demand legislation that will redefine public…
NYPD Agrees to Pay $125,000 to Bronx Woman Who Sued to Stop Police Violence and Retaliation Against Black and Brown New Yorkers
Media Contacts: Michael Paul Jackson, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY – Today, The Bronx Defenders and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP announced that the City of New York has agreed to pay Cheyenne Lee $125,000 after nine NYPD officers barged into her home without a warrant, arrested her teenage nephew, and then arrested her without…
BxD Celebrates New York City Council Vote to Ensure Greater Police Transparency and Accountability
Contact: Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – Today, the New York City Council voted to override Mayor Adams’ veto of the How Many Stops Act. In response, Christine Rivera, Policy Counsel for The Bronx Defenders’ Criminal Defense Practice, issued the following statement: “We are pleased that the City Council stood up…
NYC Public Defenders Release 2024 Statewide Criminal Legal System Legislative Priorities
Measures Include Increased Funding for Public Defender Offices, Passage of the Treatment Not Jail Act, the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act and the Eliminating Mandatory Minimums Act, Along With Additional Key Reforms (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of…
New York City Public Defenders Urge Federal Lawmakers to Reject the Most Catastrophic Immigration Reform Effort in a Generation
Contacts: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org Dan Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org Alejandra Lopez, The Legal Aid Society, ailopez@legal-aid.org New York, NY – On Thursday, the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) – the nation’s first public defender program for detained immigrants – issued the following statement in response to reports that the…
IMPACTED PEOPLE, LABOR UNIONS, BUSINESSES, AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS CELEBRATE THE GOVERNOR’S SIGNING OF THE CLEAN SLATE ACT
Katie Schaffer, kschaffer@communityalternatives.org, 646-265-2044 Tanya Frable, tfrable@communityalternatives.org, 347-677-2463 NEW YORK – Today, Governor Hochul signed the Clean Slate Act, legislation that will help millions of people support their families, boost New York’s economy and help create safer and stronger communities. Her signature on this historic legislation was lauded by hundreds of labor unions, businesses, and…
The Bronx Defenders Response to its union’s October 20 Statement
Contact: media@bronxdefenders.org “The Bronx Defenders (‘BxD’) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization whose central mission is to provide client-centered, holistic representation to low-income people in the Bronx. BxD helps approximately 20,000 Bronx residents a year navigate criminal, family, civil, and immigration legal proceedings. “The organization has decided to issue this statement in light of the…
Written Testimony re: to examine issues in the New York State market related to consumer accessibility and retail sale of legal adult-use cannabis
New York State Senate Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis; Standing Committees on Agriculture, Finance, and Investigations and Government Operations To examine issues in the New York State market related to consumer accessibility and retail sale of legal adult-use cannabis October 30, 2023 Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders By Eli Northrup, Policy Director, Criminal Defense Practice…
The Bronx Defenders Condemns the Mayor’s Assault on the Right to Shelter for Families with Children
Contact: media@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY – The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement following a media availability yesterday where Mayor Adams announced a new 60-day shelter limit for migrant families and children: “The Mayor’s new shelter limit is cruel and inhumane. Not only will this new limit force the most vulnerable families and children in…
Written Testimony re: the Child Welfare System and the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse or Maltreatment in New York State
New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Children & Families The Child Welfare System and the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse or Maltreatment in New York State September 27, 2023 Joint Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Family Representation, and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Read the testimony here
ACS Agrees to Pay Bronx Mother Who Sued Agency for Racial Discrimination Against Black and Brown Families in NYC
Agreement resolves first-of-its-kind lawsuit to enforce New York’s cannabis legalization law, which ACS violated when it separated Ms. Rivers from her newborn baby Contact: Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org Issara Baumann, Arnold & Porter, issara.baumann@arnoldporter.com The Bronx, NY – Today, The Bronx Defenders and Arnold & Porter announced a resolution with New…
New York City Public Defenders’ Joint Statement on the Crisis on Rikers and the Need for Receivership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (New York, NY) – New York County Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis on Rikers Island and the urgent need to close Rikers once and for all: “For years, we’ve watched New York…
Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders re: Improving the living conditions for asylum seekers staying in the DHS shelter system, HERRCs, and Respite Centers
New York City Council Committees on Immigration and General Welfare Improving the living conditions for asylum seekers staying in the DHS shelter system, HERRCs, and Respite Centers June 21, 2023 Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders By Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Director of Immigration Policy & Miriam Mack, Director of Family Defense Policy for The Bronx Defenders Read the…
Justine Olderman Stepping Down as Executive Director at The Bronx Defenders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, media@bronxdefenders.org (The Bronx, NY) – Today, Justine Olderman announced she will step down as Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders after six years at the organization’s helm, and after 23 years serving in various roles at the 25-year-old organization, from criminal defense attorney to Managing Director of the Criminal Defense Practice, and from Managing Director of the Organization to…