Queens Defenders, the World’s Borough’s largest public defender organization, is facing an uncertain future after the city said that it no longer trusted the firm to carry out the promise of a $32 million contract to provide criminal defense to low-income New Yorkers in Queens.
Read MoreThe New York State attorney general, a top bar association, scores of public defense organizations, several former New York City officials and a criminal justice nonprofit all called on a federal judge to strip control over Rikers Island away from the city and hand it over to a court-appointed receiver.
Read MoreThe city’s Department of Correction has again been accused of not providing medical care to detainees after three law firms representing the incarcerated population on Rikers Island filed a motion to have a judge hold the agency in contempt for skirting its mandated duties.
Read More“While there are other contributing forces to this shameful situation…there is no doubt that the driving cause behind it remains the decision of your offices to seek bail recklessly and in virtually every eligible case.”
Read More“The Board of Correction calls on the City of New York to move with urgency to create a safer environment for persons in custody and staff.”
“More and swifter action is needed to protect our clients, our staff, and everyone who uses the courthouses from unacceptable, avoidable risk.”
Read More"The only thing that [public defenders] are asking for is that they can live on the salary that they are getting.”
Read MoreHome / Law / Crime / Politics / Communities / Voices / All Stories / Who We Are / Terms and Conditions
