FOR ALL CRIMINAL CASES, INCLUDING CRIMINAL CASES SENT TO FAMILY COURT:

• The Criminal Court and the Criminal Term of Supreme Court are hearing cases by video. The only cases that are being heard in person are cases that are on the In Person DAT calendar and cases on the DAT-W calendar.  Members of the public can go to the arraignment courtroom on the first floor of 120 Schermerhorn St. and watch the video arraignment.  Arraignments of Adolescent Offenders in Youth Part 1 (YP1) at 320 Jay St. are also taking place by video.  Family and other members of the public may go to Youth Part 1 (YP1) and watch the video arraignment.
• If you have a court date, contact your attorney who will assist you in appearing in virtual court.
• For questions about your case, if you already have your attorney’s phone number, reach out to them directly. If not, or for additional information, please call 718-254-0700 or email bds@bds.org
• Note: If you know or have a loved one incarcerated who is feeling ill or having difficulty accessing medical care, please contact Jail Services at 646-787-3325 (English) or 646-971-2710 (Spanish). The person must be represented by BDS.

 

FOR FAMILY COURT ACS CASES:

• Please do not travel to the Family Court as the Family Court is operating digitally and is hearing cases by phone and video. If you are a BDS client, please contact your attorney or social worker for your next court date and to discuss any issues you have with your family court case.
• If you cannot reach your BDS attorney or social worker, or have an emergency concerning the removal of children, please call 347-592-2500. If someone doesn’t answer, we will call you back as quickly as possible. ACS also has a hotline you can call to get information about where your children are located. The number is (646) 935-1411.
• If you are not a current BDS client but you are being investigated by ACS, please call 646-974-9343 for immediate assistance. If someone doesn’t answer, we will call you back as quickly as possible.
• If you are not a current BDS client, and are not being investigated by ACS, but have questions about how to access Family Court, please follow this link for more information: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/COURTS/nyc/family/index.shtml

 

FOR INTEGRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (IDV) COURT CASES:

• IDV court is open for virtual appearances with Microsoft Teams.
• If you have a court date you need to appear using Microsoft Teams.
• IDV court is also able to hear emergency applications on custody and family offense cases.
• If you have an order that is not being followed or need further legal relief, please contact your IDV attorney (A staff directory is listed at the top of this page)
• Your attorney will call you or your family with your new court date.

 

FOR IMMIGRATION CASES:

• To reach our immigration practice, please call: 718-564-6290
• For questions regarding DETAINED individuals ONLY: 347-768-3040
• ICE continues enforcement operations, including arrests at homes, places of business, and near courthouses. Know Your Rights by watching our video series: wehaverights.us
• Until the close of business on July 1, 2020, all in-person reporting requirements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been suspended, and all appointments to report in person to ICE/ERO New York City, or any ICE sub-office (Central Islip and Newburgh) as well as to report in person to ICE contractors (BI) on ATD have been cancelled and will be rescheduled, or you will be contacted telephonically. Previously scheduled telephonic reporting has not been suspended.
• Hearings for detained individuals are still occurring at the New York Varick Street Immigration Court; most are being conducted by video teleconference.
• EOIR (Immigration Court): Non-detained hearing at 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway in New York scheduled at least through February 19, 2021 have been postponed. Some other immigration courts have resumed non-detained hearings.
• USCIS is reopening the local offices to the public for ceremonies on June 15, 2020 and will gradually schedule inter-views and appointments later in the month. (Additional information about details has not been provided). Applicants who are scheduled to come to the office will receive a notice and instructions in the mail. Individuals should check the USCIS website and read notices carefully regarding COVID-19 related precautions and requirements for in person appointments.

 

FOR HOUSING OR CIVIL CASES:

• As of December 28, 2020, there is another universal eviction moratorium in NYC. This moratorium started immediately and is set to last until February 26, 2021. Tenants affected by COVID can further delay impending eviction cases by filling out a Hardship Declaration and mailing to their borough housing court or dropping off at a drop box outside the courthouse: http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/SSI/images/corona/HardshipDeclaration.pdf. Upon the court’s receipt of the Hardship Declaration, the tenant’s eviction proceeding is delayed until May 1, 2021.
• CDC Eviction Moratorium. On January 20, 2021, the CDC extended their eviction moratorium that prevents landlords from evicting tenants who have been financially affected by COVID-19 until at least March 31, 2021.

 

Tenant Safe Harbor Act

• In June 2020, the governor signed the Tenant Safe Harbor Act into law.
• The Tenant Safe Harbor Act is a law that stops tenants who experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 period from ever being evicted for non-payment of rent that became due during the period from March 7, 2020, until the state of emergency ends.
  • Landlords may still start eviction proceedings over rent that became due after March 7, 2020, and tenants must raise financial hardship as a defense.
  • **Landlords can still obtain money judgments against their tenants for any unpaid rent that accrued during the crisis.
  • Money judgments can still be devastating as they can result in wage garnishment and frozen bank accounts.

 

Housing Court

• NYC Housing Court is not taking any action on non-payment or holdover cases until March 1, 2021.
  • The only exception to this is any nuisance cases that were commenced pre-COVID.
  • If you were the tenant in a nuisance case that started pre-COVID, please keep an eye out for potential virtual court appearances.
    • Please contact 311 and ask to speak to a legal service provider if you have any questions about whether your pre-COVID case is a nuisance case.
  • Landlords can file new eviction cases electronically or by mail, but the court will not accept the new filings without proof that they served the tenant with a hardship declaration.
  • For a tenant to further delay any action taken on their case to May 1, 2021, they must submit a Hardship Declaration to their borough housing court.
    • Tenants can also submit to their landlord, but the court must receive the declaration themselves in order for it to take effect.

 

• Housing Court remains open for applications addressing post-eviction relief, illegal lockouts, and apartment repairs.
  • Tenants can file cases to compel their landlords to make repairs by going in person to the housing court in the borough in which they live or by using JustFix (an online application)

 

NYCHA Administrative Proceedings

• NYCHA and other administrative hearings are still being postponed.

 

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFITS:

• If your PA/SNAP case was due for recertification between January and March 2021 HRA will take no adverse action if you fail to complete recertification. If you receive any notice instructing you to recertify is still best to respond as instructed.
• If you need to apply for public assistance or SNAP you can do so online or via the HRA Access app: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/.
• Most HRA offices are closed! If you must visit in person call 311 for available locations.
• Food assistance is available at a food pantry near you. Call 311 for locations.
• If you have questions, or would like to speak to the civil practice, please ask your attorney to make a referral or contact us at 332-213-4193.

 

 

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

• For the 2020-21 school year, the New York City Department of Education has opened its schools using a “blended learning” model, with a mix of in-person and remote learning.. More updates about the 2020-21 school year, including information about the enrollment processes and deadlines for the 2021-22 school year, can be found here.
• The DOE initially closed all school buildings to in-person learning when infection rates in the city reached 3%. However, elementary schools reopened for in-person learning on December 7, 2020, and District 75 schools reopened for in-person learning on December 10, 2020. All middle schools and high schools remain closed for in-person learning.
• Individual schools may close to in-person learning due to COVID-19 infections within the school community. A map of schools with school or classroom closures can be found here.
• Families who have chosen blended learning can choose for their children to do 100% remote learning at any time by filling out this form. There are no official plans for families who have chosen fully remote learning for the school year to have another opportunity to choose blended learning.
• Many locations around the city are serving Grab and Go meals. Students and families can pick up meals at any school building between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Members of the community can pick up meals at various locations around the city between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. No registration, ID, or documentation is required to pick up these meals. People can find the closest location serving meals here, or text “NYC FOOD” or “NYC COMIDA” to 877-877 to find the closest meal hub.
• If you or a family member are unable to work because of factors related to coronavirus, you may be eligible for immediate unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment assistance, variousforms of paid leave, worker’s comp, short term disability, or a reasonable accommodation such as working from home.  You also have the right to work in safe conditions and have protections against discrimination.
• If you want more information about your child’s educational rights in this uncertain time, or what employment benefits you might be eligible for, contact us at education@bds.org, employment@bds.org, or call us at 646-971-2722.

 

 

COMMUNITY OFFICE:

• Our community office is currently closed but we are working remotely and available to help.
• If you have issues or questions about ACS, education, housing, employment benefits, re-entry services, criminal matters or general legal issues, please call 646-971-2722 or email us at communityoffice@bds.org.

 

PARA TODOS LOS CASOS CRIMINALES, INCLUIDOS LOS CASOS ENVIADOS AL TRIBUNAL DE FAMILIA:

• La Corte Criminal y el Tribunal Penal de la Corte Suprema están atendiendo casos por video. Los únicos casos que se atienden en persona son los casos que están en el calendario DAT y los casos en el calendario DAT-W. Los miembros del público pueden ir a la sala de acusación del tribunal en el primer piso del 120 de Schermerhorn St. y ver el video de la acusación. Los procesamientos de delincuentes adolescentes en Youth Part 1 (YP1) en 320 Jay St. también se están llevando a cabo por video. La familia y otros miembros del público pueden ir a Youth Part 1 (YP1) y ver el video de la lectura de cargos.
• Si tiene una cita en la corte, comuníquese con su abogado, quien lo ayudará a comparecer en la corte virtual.
• Si tiene preguntas sobre su caso, si ya tiene el número de teléfono de su abogad@, comuníquese con él o ella directamente. De lo contrario, o para obtener información adicional, llame al 718-254-0700 o envíe un correo electrónico a bds@bds.org
• Nota: Si conoce o tiene un ser querido encarcelado que se siente enfermo o tiene dificultades para obtener atención médica, comuníquese con Jail Services al 646-787-3325 (inglés) o al 646-971-2710 (español). La persona debe estar representada por BDS.

 

 

PARA CASOS DEL TRIBUNAL DE FAMILIA ACS:

• Por favor, no vaya al Tribunal de Familia ya que el Tribunal de Familia funciona digitalmente y está atendiendo casos por teléfono y video. Si es cliente de BDS, comuníquese con su abogad@ o trabajador@ social para su próxima cita en la corte y para discutir cualquier problema que tenga con su caso en la corte familiar.
• Si no puede comunicarse con su abogad@ o trabajador@ social de BDS, o si tiene una emergencia relacionada con el traslado de sus niños, llame al 347-592-2500. Si alguien no responde, le devolveremos la llamada lo antes posible. ACS también tiene una línea directa a la que puede llamar para obtener información sobre dónde se encuentran sus hijos. El número es (646) 935-1411.
• Si no es un cliente actual de BDS pero está siendo investigado por ACS, llame al 646-974-9343 para obtener asistencia inmediata. Si alguien no responde, le devolveremos la llamada lo antes posible.
• Si no es un cliente actual de BDS y no está siendo investigado por ACS, pero tiene preguntas sobre cómo acceder al Tribunal de Familia, siga este enlace para obtener más información: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/COURTS/nyc/family/index.shtml

 

 

PARA CASOS DE VIOLENCIA DOMESTICA INTEGRADA (IDV):

• La corte IDV está abierta para comparecencias virtuales a través Microsoft Teams.
• Si tiene una cita en la corte, debe comparecer con Microsoft Teams.
• El tribunal de IDV también puede atender solicitudes de emergencia en casos de custodia y delitos familiares.
• Si tiene una orden que no se está siguiendo o necesita más ayuda legal, comuníquese con su abogad@ de IDV (el directorio del personal se encuentra en la parte superior de esta página)
• Su abogad@ lo llamará a usted o a su familia con su nueva fecha de corte.

 

 

PARA CASOS DE INMIGRACIÓN:

• Para comunicarse con nuestra práctica de inmigración, llame al: 718-564-6290
• Para preguntas sobre personas DETENIDAS ÚNICAMENTE: 347-768-3040
• ICE continúa con las operaciones de cumplimiento, incluidos los arrestos en hogares, lugares de negocios y cerca de los juzgados. Conozca sus derechos viendo nuestra serie de videos: www.wehaverights.us
• Hasta el cierre de operaciones el 1 de julio de 2020, todos los requisitos de presentación de informes en persona con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) se han suspendido, y todas las citas para informar en persona a ICE / ERO de la ciudad de Nueva York, o cualquier sub- oficina (Central Islip y Newburgh), así como informar en persona a los contratistas de ICE (BI) sobre ATD, se cancelaron y se reprogramarán, o se lo comunicarán telefónicamente. No se han suspendido los informes telefónicos programados anteriormente.
• Todavía se están celebrando audiencias para las personas detenidas en el Tribunal de Inmigración de Varick Street de Nueva York; la mayoría se llevan a cabo mediante videoconferencia.
• EOIR (Tribunal de Inmigración): Se han pospuesto las audiencias de no detenidos en 26 Federal Plaza y 290 Broadway en Nueva York programadas al menos hasta el 19 de febrero de 2021. Algunos otros tribunales de inmigración han reanudado las audiencias de no detenidos.
• USCIS está reabriendo las oficinas locales al público para las ceremonias el 15 de junio de 2020 y gradualmente programará entrevistas y citas más adelante en el mes. (No se ha proporcionado información adicional sobre los detalles). Los solicitantes que están programados para venir a la oficina recibirán un aviso e instrucciones por correo. Las personas deben consultar el sitio web de USCIS y leer atentamente los avisos sobre las precauciones y requisitos relacionados con COVID-19 para las citas en persona.

 

 

PARA CASOS DE VIVIENDA O CIVILES:

• A partir del 28 de diciembre de 2020, hay otra moratoria de desalojo universal en Nueva York. Esta moratoria comenzó de inmediato y está programada para durar hasta el 26 de febrero de 2021. Los inquilinos afectados por COVID pueden retrasar aún más los casos de desalojo inminentes al completar una Declaración de Dificultades y enviarla por correo a la corte de vivienda de su condado o dejarla en un buzón fuera del tribunal: http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/SSI/images/corona/HardshipDeclaration.pdf. Una vez que el tribunal reciba la Declaración de dificultades económicas, el procedimiento de desalojo del inquilino se retrasa hasta el 1 de mayo de 2021.

• Moratoria de desalojo del CDC. El 20 de enero de 2021, el CDC extendió su moratoria de desalojo que evita que los propietarios desalojen a los inquilinos que han sido afectados financieramente por COVID-19 hasta al menos el 31 de marzo de 2021.

 

Ley de puerto seguro para inquilinos

• En junio de 2020, el gobernador promulgó la Ley de puerto seguro para inquilinos.
• La Ley de puerto seguro para inquilinos es una ley que impide que los inquilinos que experimentaron dificultades financieras durante el período de COVID-19 sean desalojados por falta de pago del alquiler vencido durante el período comprendido entre el 7 de marzo de 2020, hasta que finalice el estado de emergencia.
  • Los propietarios aún pueden iniciar procedimientos de desalojo por alquiler que haya vencido después del 7 de marzo de 2020, y los inquilinos deben presentar prueba de dificultades financieras como defensa.
  • ** Los propietarios aún pueden obtener juicios monetarios contra sus inquilinos por cualquier alquiler impago que se haya acumulado durante la crisis.
  • Los juicios monetarios aún pueden ser devastadores, ya que pueden resultar en embargos salariales y cuentas bancarias congeladas.

 

Tribunal de Vivienda

• El Tribunal de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Nueva York no tomará ninguna medida en casos de impago o remanente hasta el 1 de marzo de 2021.
  • La única excepción a esto son los casos de molestias que se iniciaron antes de COVID.
  • Si usted fue el inquilino en un caso de molestias que comenzó antes de COVID, esté atento a posibles comparecencias en la corte virtual.
    • Comuníquese con el 311 y pida hablar con un proveedor de servicios legales si tiene alguna pregunta sobre si su caso anterior a COVID es un caso de molestias.
  • Los propietarios pueden presentar nuevos casos de desalojo electrónicamente o por correo, pero el tribunal no aceptará las nuevas presentaciones sin prueba de que entregaron al inquilino una declaración de dificultades.

• Para que un inquilino demore aún más cualquier acción tomada en su caso hasta el 1 de mayo de 2021, debe presentar una Declaración de dificultades a la corte de vivienda de su condado.
  • Los inquilinos también pueden presentarse a su arrendador, pero el tribunal debe recibir la declaración ellos mismos para que entre en vigor.

• El Tribunal de Vivienda permanece abierto para solicitudes relacionadas con el alivio posterior al desalojo, los cierres patronales ilegales y la reparación de apartamentos.
  • Los inquilinos pueden presentar casos para obligar a sus propietarios a hacer reparaciones yendo en persona al tribunal de vivienda en el municipio en el que viven o usando JustFix (una solicitud en línea).

Procedimientos administrativos de NYCHA

• NYCHA y otras audiencias administrativas continúan pospuestas.

 

PARA PREGUNTAS SOBRE BENEFICIOS PÚBLICOS:

• Si su caso PA / SNAP debía ser recertificado entre enero y marzo de 2021, la HRA no tomará ninguna medida adversa si no completa la recertificación. Si recibe algún aviso que le indique que debe volver a certificarse, es mejor responder según las instrucciones.
• Si necesita solicitar asistencia pública o SNAP, puede hacerlo en línea o mediante la aplicación HRA Access: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/.
• ¡La mayoría de las oficinas de la HRA están cerradas! Si debe visitar en persona, llame al 311 para conocer las ubicaciones disponibles.
• Hay asistencia alimentaria disponible en una despensa de alimentos cercana. Llame al 311 para conocer las ubicaciones.
• Si tiene preguntas o le gustaría hablar con la práctica civil, pídale a su abogado que lo recomiende o comuníquese con nosotros al 332-213-4193.

 

 

PARA PREGUNTAS SOBRE EDUCACIÓN Y EMPLEO

• Para el año escolar 2020-21, el Departamento de Educación de la Ciudad de Nueva York ha abierto sus escuelas utilizando un modelo de “aprendizaje combinado”, con una combinación de aprendizaje en persona y remoto. Puede encontrar más actualizaciones sobre el año escolar 2020-21, incluida información sobre los procesos de inscripción y las fechas límite para el año escolar 2021-22, aquí.
• El DOE inicialmente cerró todos los edificios escolares para el aprendizaje en persona cuando las tasas de infección en la ciudad alcanzaron el 3%. Sin embargo, las escuelas primarias reabrieron para el aprendizaje en persona el 7 de diciembre de 2020 y las escuelas del Distrito 75 reabrieron para el aprendizaje en persona el 10 de diciembre de 2020. Todas las escuelas intermedias y secundarias permanecen cerradas para el aprendizaje en persona.
• Las escuelas individuales pueden cerrar el aprendizaje en persona debido a las infecciones por COVID-19 dentro de la comunidad escolar. Puede encontrar un mapa de los cierres de escuelas o aulas aquí.
• Las familias que han optado por el aprendizaje mixto pueden elegir que sus hijos realicen un aprendizaje remoto al 100% en cualquier momento completando este formulario. No hay planes oficiales para que las familias que han elegido el aprendizaje completamente remoto durante el año escolar tengan otra oportunidad de elegir el aprendizaje combinado.
• En muchos lugares de la ciudad se sirven comidas para llevar. Los estudiantes y las familias pueden recoger las comidas en cualquier escuela entre las 9:00 a.m. y el mediodía. Los miembros de la comunidad pueden recoger comidas en varios lugares de la ciudad entre las 3:00 p.m. y 5:00 p.m. No se requiere registro, identificación o documentación para recoger estas comidas. Las personas pueden encontrar el lugar más cercano que sirve comidas aquí, o envíe un mensaje de texto con “NYC FOOD” o “NYC COMIDA” al 877-877 para encontrar el centro de comidas más cercano.
• Si usted o un miembro de su familia no pueden trabajar debido a factores relacionados con el coronavirus, puede ser elegible para Seguro de desempleo, desempleo por pandemia, variasformas de vacaciones pagadas, compensación de trabajadores, short term disability, o acomodación razonable como trabajar desde casa. Usted también tiene derecho de trabajar en condiciones seguras y tener protección contra la discriminación.
• Si desea obtener más información sobre los derechos educativos de su hijo en este momento incierto, o para qué beneficios laborales podría ser elegible, comuníquese a education@bds.org, employment@bds.org, o llámenos al 646-971-2722.

 

 

OFICINA COMUNITARIA:

• Nuestra oficina comunitaria está cerrada actualmente, pero estamos trabajando de forma remota y disponibles para ayudar.
• Si tiene problemas o preguntas sobre ACS, educación, vivienda, beneficios laborales, servicios de reingreso, asuntos penales o asuntos legales generales, llame al 646-971-2722 o envíenos un correo electrónico a communityoffice@bds.org.

The mission of Brooklyn Defender Services is to provide high quality legal representation and related services to people who cannot afford to retain an attorney.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a public defender organization that represents nearly 35,000 people each year who are too poor to afford an attorney. Our staff consists of specialized attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals and administrative staff who are experts in their individual fields.

Our staff are highly qualified and specially trained to provide excellent legal representation to people charged with a crime or facing child welfare proceedings. Every client receives the services needed to defend his or her case, including an investigator to track down witnesses or recover evidence, a social worker to improve the life circumstances of our client and an excellent attorney who will analyze the legal issues in the case, try to negotiate a fair resolution of the matter and will represent the client at a trial.

BDS has many services for our clients on-site, including civil legal advocacy, such as assistance with educational needs of our clients or their children, housing and benefits advocacy and immigration advice and representation.

People who are arrested face many obstacles, even if their case was resolved in their favor. Some examples are loss of employment, suspension from school, eviction from public or private housing, deportation, forfeiture of property and loss of licenses. Our goal is to help clients with these issues as they arise. We also work to change these systems by challenging their legality and advocating for changes in the law.

Each year, there are 100,000 arrests in Brooklyn. Eighty-five percent of these arrests are for misdemeanors or a non-criminal offense. Ninety percent of the people arrested cannot afford an attorney. Brooklyn Defender Services staffs the court so that every person has an attorney as soon as they see the judge.

One thousand families each year get a similar benefit—they too have an attorney waiting in the courtroom to help them on the very day that proceedings are filed for removal of their children.

Many of our clients are people with a mental illness. Many of our clients are under the age of 18. A growing number are veterans facing difficulties in returning home. A large portion are suffering with drug addiction or alcoholism. It is only through a zealous voice advocating for those unable to speak for themselves that justice is done. BDS is that voice.

• Criminal Defense

  The sixth amendment of the United States Constitution gives every person charged with a crime the right to an attorney. People who are unable to afford an attorney are provided one free of charge. This is the primary function of Brooklyn Defender Services.

  In Brooklyn, there are approximately 100,000 arrests per year. BDS represents about 40% of the total people arrested in Brooklyn. About 15% of those cases are felony charges, meaning that the person is accused of a serious matter such as robbery or burglary. In such cases, BDS attorneys interview the client to determine if he or she may be innocent or have a defense to the charges. We investigate and follow up every lead our clients provide. We also work to achieve release from jail for our clients while the charges are pending. Attorneys pursue legal issues that can work to the client’s benefit and attempt to negotiate a plea bargain that will be advantageous for the client, particularly in cases where the client does not have a defense and committed the act he or she is charged with. In many cases, even in such a situation, the client is eligible for drug or mental health treatment rather than a jail sentence. Other social issues may be apparent, such as: our client was a veteran, or was a victim of domestic violence or other trauma. Our many social workers help our clients by identifying issues that are not related to the case itself, but to the person who was arrested. Attorneys use this information to pursue better options for their clients.

  Eighty-five percent of our clients are charged with misdemeanor offenses, meaning that the charges are a crime but not the most serious type of crime. Such charges include shoplifting, marijuana possession, trespassing and assaults (like bar fights). In such cases, BDS attorneys work hard to pursue any legal or factual defense the clients may have, including by interviewing witnesses, as with felony matters. However, with less serious matters, much of the damage to the client’s life can come in the form of collateral consequences. For example, a person can face deportation, even if they only had a misdemeanor charge. People living in public housing can face eviction. Many clients have very low paying jobs and face termination for missing even one day of work or for getting a conviction. Some cases even threaten a parent’s right to keep their child or a person’s right to return to their home.

  BDS provides many resources to address these other issues because, in our experience, such matters are more harmful to our clients than the impact the criminal charge itself. In addition, the impact of these types of disenfranchising consequences to large numbers of people in small areas of Brooklyn such as Brownsville or East New York also profoundly impacts those communities.

  BDS’s clients reflect the demographics of the criminal justice system in which a majority of the people arrested are people of color. Twenty-four percent of our clients — about 10,000 — are youth under 21 years of age and at least 15% live in public or Section 8 housing. About 17% of BDS’s clients—7,600 per year—are non-citizens.

  Specialized UnitsFor many of BDS’s clients, poverty, trauma, mental illness, and alcohol or drug abuse are the driving forces behind their involvement in the criminal or family systems. In order to address the unique needs and barriers many of our clients face, BDS has a number of dedicated and specialized units which provide targeted services to adolescents, clients with mental illness, victims of trafficking, veterans and clients with overlapping criminal and family court issues.

  Brooklyn Adolescent Representation Team BDS’s integrated adolescent representation team is comprised of ten attorneys working together with an educational attorney and a specialized team of social workers and advocates.

  Family/Criminal Integrated Team In 2002, BDS received funding from the City Council to initiate a pilot program in which BDS represented clients with pending criminal matters in their related Family Court proceedings. This was highly beneficial for the clients who were able to have one attorney fully familiar with the facts and circumstances of both cases, and could execute a coordinated legal strategy. For BDS, this allowed us to expand our legal and support services to the clients’ broader needs in a coherent and cost-effective manner. In 2007, the Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court was created to bring related Family, Criminal, and Matrimonial cases to a single judge who hears all aspects of a case. With the creation of this specialized court, BDS’s Family attorneys were able to transfer their expertise and experience to serving clients in the IDV court where they represent more than 400 clients per year.

  Trafficking Team Our Trafficking Team is made up of experienced criminal defense attorneys who specialize in understanding and identifying the complexities related to human trafficking. They represent BDS’s clients in Brooklyn’s Human Trafficking Intervention Part, and are skilled in identifying collateral social and legal service needs – including issues of immigration, safety and trauma. Working closely with social workers, immigration attorneys, interpreters and other service providers, our trafficking attorneys seek to minimize the punitive nature of criminal justice contact and provide meaningful services for victims of trafficking who find themselves facing criminal charges.

  Mental Health Team Brooklyn Defender Services represents many clients who have a diagnosed mental illness. Two specialized attorneys with dedicated social work support represent some clients. Our specialized attorneys represent mentally ill clients at competency evaluations, hearings and other court appearances during the pendency of their case. It is also part of our mission to insure that these clients not only receive a fair and just disposition but also the best care and treatment possible. Research has proven that clients with a mentally illness who are offered an opportunity to participate in mental health courts are significantly less likely to get re-arrested than similar offenders with mental illness who experience traditional court processing.

  Brooklyn Defender Services played an important role in the development and launch of the Brooklyn Mental Health Court over 10 years ago. Brooklyn Mental Health Court serves as the model for treatment courts all over the world.

• Family Defense

  BDS’ Family Defense Practice (FDP) is the primary provider of legal representation to parents in child welfare cases in Brooklyn Family Court.  The mission of FDP is to protect the right to family integrity of low- income families, primarily families of color who are disproportionately affected by the child welfare system.  FDP’s interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and administrative staff advance our clients’ due process rights in court while also helping them get the benefits and services they need to keep their families together.  Because the needs of children are generally best met by their own families, our representation is designed to keep children out of foster care, or when we are unable to prevent their removal, to safely reunify families as quickly as possible.

  Each year, BDS’ FDP represents several thousand parents and caregivers in Article 10 cases and related custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights cases. We prevent children from entering foster care by advocating for families at Child Safety Conferences and litigating emergency hearings.  Our interdisciplinary practice focuses on empowering our clients to help them to achieve their goals for their family.   Many of FDP’s clients face complex and multi-faceted problems stemming from poverty and have difficulty accessing resources they need. Our clients’ representation benefits greatly from our collaborations with BDS’ other legal practice teams, including criminal, immigration, housing, education benefits and seamless internal referrals. FDP has a specialized Law and Appeals Unit, which handles complex motions and interim and final appeals.  FDP also has supervisors and attorneys who specialize in custody, medically complicated, and termination of parental rights cases.  Each year, students from New York University School of Law’s Family Defense Clinic are placed in our office. We also have a robust pro bono program which partners with major New York City law firms and an Associates’ Advisory Board. BDS also assists about 100 parents each year in clearing their names from the State Central Register after their Family Court case is dismissed, removing barriers to obtaining employment in the future.

  Recognizing that the child welfare system is plagued by the effects of structural racism, sexism, and classism, FDP works for systemic change through legislative reform efforts, appellate advocacy, media, and informal advocacy with the Administration for Children’s Services.  Our office regularly meets with important stakeholders and testifies before New York’s lawmakers to help amplify the voice the parents impacted by the child welfare system.  FDP’s Parent Leadership Institute trains former clients to be parent advocates to help other child-welfare-involved parents and advocate for systemic change.

  We are very proud our model of representation  has been recognized as the most effective for representation of parents in child welfare cases by the Commission on Parental Representation in its interim report to Chief Judge DiFiore. A recent study commissioned by Casey Family Programs of the family defender offices in New York City concluded that our model of representation significantly reduced the time children spend in foster care.

• Immigration

  BDS’s Immigration Practice provides comprehensive and zealous representation to our clients, who face life-changing consequences at the intersection of the criminal justice system and the immigration system. Since 2009, we have counseled or represented over 7,500 clients. The Immigration Practice is comprised of the Padilla, Youth & Communities Team and the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) Team.

  Padilla, Youth & Communities

  The Padilla, Youth & Communities Team advises BDS criminal and family defense clients about the potential immigration consequences of criminal charges and family court proceedings, following our constitutional obligation under the Supreme Court’s holding in Padilla v. Kentucky to provide competent advice to criminal defendants to help them make an informed choice about their cases. BDS has one of the largest Padilla practices in the country, as a quarter of BDS criminal clients are foreign-born. Padilla attorneys work closely with criminal and family defense attorneys and staff in an early intervention model, providing immigration-related advice as early as the client’s arraignment and coordinating with court staff, prosecutors, social workers, and client families to promote the best possible outcome for the criminal, family, and/or immigration cases. Padilla attorneys also represent individual clients in applications for immigration status or benefits with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and in removal proceedings before the New York Immigration Court, helping clients stabilize their immigration status and seek safety from persecution, family re-unification, or benefits for victims of neglect, abuse, or violence.

  BDS’s Youth and Communities staff serve both BDS clients and Brooklyn community members by representing individual clients before USCIS, family court, and the New York Immigration Court, and have helped hundreds of clients secure permanent residence, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Temporary Protected Status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and other benefits. The Youth & Communities project has run and staffed many community clinics and presentations, for example, to help Brooklyn’s Haitian community secure Temporary Protected Status, to help young people apply for DACA, and to provide critical “Know Your Rights” information, partnering with community based groups, elected officials, churches, and social service providers.

  The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP)

  The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project is the groundbreaking, first-in-the-nation universal representation program for detained immigrants, funded by the New York City Council and created in partnership with BDS. BDS staff have provided deportation defense to over 750 detained immigrants on an assigned counsel model since NYIFUP’s inception as a pilot program in the fall of 2013. NYIFUP was created after studies showed that detained immigrants in New York rarely secured counsel and that detained, unrepresented immigrants lost their deportation cases 97% of the time, causing wrongful deportations of people who had strong defenses to removal and tearing apart families who were losing a spouse or parent. NYIFUP is a national model of access to justice for detained immigrants and has spurred replication efforts across the country.

  BDS’s NYIFUP Team intakes detained clients at the Varick Street Immigration Court in New York City and represents them in bond hearings, merits hearings on their defenses to removal, and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). In addition, BDS has a highly successful in-house federal court practice, and has litigated dozens of habeas corpus petitions challenging the wrongful detention of immigrants, including the Second Circuit’s landmark decision in Lora v. Shanahan.

  BDS’s Immigration Practice is comprised of twenty-three full-time staff attorneys, a fully accredited BIA representative, five paralegals (two of whom are partially BIA accredited), two legal assistants, and a social worker. The Immigration Practice has hosted several Immigrant Justice Corps fellows and other post-graduate fellows.

• Civil Justice

  The Civil Justice Practice aims to reduce the civil collateral consequences for low-income clients who have had interaction with the criminal, family or immigration justice systems. Through legal advocacy in court and at various agencies, we assist people in remaining in their homes, maintaining their public benefits, staying in school, keeping their jobs, and protecting their consumer rights. In order to achieve these ends we practice in almost all of New York City’s courts at every level from trial to appellate courts. We also assist criminal defense attorneys and their clients by identifying potential civil ramifications of guilty pleas and strategizing ways to minimize the risk of eviction, loss of employment and educational consequences as a result of a criminal conviction. Philosophically, the unit hopes to help our clients mitigate the real life consequences of criminal justice system contacts by providing a multi-disciplinary help in various trouble areas. Finally, in addition to our in-house work, we will engage with the community and hold external educational clinics in close partnership with numerous community-based organizations.

  

  Housing & Benefits Team Our Housing & Benefits Team has the goal of supporting the criminal practice by aiding to stabilize the living situation of our Brooklyn clients by representing clients in administrative proceedings, eviction proceedings, affirmative actions seeking repairs as well as advocate on their behalf for access to public benefits.

  • Support During the Criminal Matter. By identifying BDS clients from the different units (criminal, family, immigration and education) we can assist the stabilization of the family/individual and help advise the best resolution with a trained eye on the collateral consequences of the criminal matter, both in the realm of housing and public benefits..
  • Support for Eviction and Housing Proceedings. As some clients face eviction, the housing unit can step in and defend them from the owner, be it NYCHA or a private landlord. Further, in cases where conditions in the apartment become a serious enough problem to have consequences, such as bar to reunification of a family, the unit can bring affirmative litigation against owners so that they fix these conditions and the obstacles can be removed for our clients. NYCHA often brings termination proceedings against entire families based on minor arrests of guests or occupants; we defend these types of administrative hearings in order to prevent displacement of entire families.
  • Support for Termination or Denial of Public Benefits. As some clients face a difficult time in applying for and maintaining public benefits, we represent our clients in challenging agency decisions. This type of income/essentials of life support helps ground our clients in a multi-disciplinary manner, as the problems they face do not exist independent of one another. These include challenges to decisions by the Human Resources Administration, the Department of Homeless Services, the Social Security Administration and other agencies in the denial of shelter allowance, health care benefits, and income supportive benefits. Our Public Benefits Team will also be involved in helping craft new regulations as part of city-wide committees seeking to engage the new administration in public benefits reform.
  • Advocacy and Educational Outreach. As a leader in the legal services community, BDS is involved in city-wide conversations about cutting edge housing issues. As such we engage coalitions and other groups that seek to protect the tenant housing rights. We educate both the general public and vulnerable populations as to what rights they have before they have become involved in the system. In order to promote this knowledge the housing unit will work closely with Brooklyn community-based groups as well as police precincts, churches, community centers, libraries, local political officials, and other organizations, such as the Brooklyn Tenant Lawyers Network.

  Education Team Our Education Project seeks to improve opportunities for young Brooklyn residents by advocating for their educational rights in formal proceedings against the Department of Education, as well as informally and in collaboration with school officials.

  Frequently, the young clients BDS serves in family and criminal proceedings are “overage and under-credited,” and confronting obstacles to completing their education including, among other factors, overly harsh disciplinary proceedings, inappropriate special education services, and difficulty accessing alternative education options.

  We work with our young clients to identify their educational goals, and then provide the necessary representation and advocacy to remove the identified obstacles.

  BDS’ Education Project endeavors to not only to improve dispositional outcomes for our clients, but also to maximize our unique entry point into our client’s lives and ensure they get the support they need to pursue their educational goals and remain in the community.

• Policy & Advocacy

  BDS has been involved in dozens of court-based initiatives and special projects. Our staff participates in numerous court-improvement and bar association committees. One current project in which both our criminal and family practice staff is involved is the Center for Court Innovation’s “crossover” youth initiative, intended to address the issues that affect children who are both the subject of child welfare cases and have been arrested in either the juvenile or adult system.

  Jail-Based Services
  Nearly 80 percent of people in city jails are in pre-trial detention, meaning that they are unable to pay bail as they await the disposition of their criminal case. Only a small percentage of jail residents are actually serving time as a result of a conviction. The policy of pre-trial detainment means that many New Yorkers suffer serious collateral consequences simply as the result of an arrest – whether or not they are actually found guilty of the crime they have been accused of committing. These collateral consequences extend to every aspect of their lives, from parental rights, to employment, housing and educational rights and opportunities. Meanwhile the geographic isolation of Rikers Island, the largest collection of jail facilities in New York City, creates tremendous barriers for our clients in their efforts to maintain contact with their families, communities and attorneys while they are locked up.

  BDS launched Jail Services to mitigate the burdens that confinement creates for criminal defense and to protect our clients against these collateral consequences. Through our jail programming we are able to streamline our clients’ access to education, housing, family, immigration and re-entry services while attempting to meet their most immediate daily needs. Additionally, an established presence in New York City jails allows BDS to monitor and document the conditions New Yorkers encounter when incarcerated and advocate for the rights and welfare of our clients and other incarcerated people.
  
  Young New Yorkers
  Young New Yorkers is a restorative justice, arts program for 16-and 17-year-olds who have open criminal cases. The criminal court gives eligible defendants the option to participate in Young New Yorkers rather than do jail time, community service and have a lifelong criminal record. The curriculum is uniquely tailored to develop the emotional and behavioral skills of the young participants while facilitating responsible and creative self-expression. Central to the curriculum is the concept of taking responsibility for past actions as a necessary step before becoming valued members and leaders of one’s community. Each workshop is framed by a relevant theme: community; choice; accountability; responsibility; contribution; leadership. These themes are explored, as they relate to each participant, in conversation with the group and through art exercises utilizing photography, video, illustration, and design.

  A series of six intensive, hands-on workshops prepares the participants to design a public art installation that expresses a positive social message of their choice. Local artists join each workshop and assist the participants in weekly art projects. The weekly artworks and the final installation design are then presented to the public at the Young New Yorkers Finale. The Finale allows the participants to experience themselves as worthy, creative contributors to their communities, rather than as undeserving and irredeemable criminal actors.

  Young New Yorkers is supported by Brooklyn Defender Services and administered through the ADP initiative at the Red Hook Community Justice Center. Upon completion of the Young New Yorkers workshops, the participants avoid serving any jail time and, in most cases, have their criminal charges dismissed and sealed, leaving their young lives uninhibited by an adult criminal record. For more information see www.youngnewyorkers.org

  

  Community Projects
  Our dedication to the needs of the Brooklyn community is evident in the projects we have created in response to those needs. Through private foundation funding, as well as support from individual City Council members and the Council’s Immigrant Opportunities Initiative, BDS has:

  • Partnered with the Brooklyn Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer’s Project (VLP) to form community-based immigration clinics in Crown Heights for the Haitian community;
  • Created the Young Mothers Empowerment Project to meet the special needs of our teenage clients who are parents;
  • Developed a community model in Sunset Park to help young people apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an immigration status that makes undocumented young people eligible for school and work; and
  • Developed the Strengthening Families/Strengthening Communities project which holds community forums and Know Your Rights parent workshops throughout Brooklyn to inform communities about the child welfare system and discuss the impact of this system on low-income families.

• Community Office

  All of our practices benefit from the opening of the BDS Community Office in East New York in August. The office allows BDS to better serve our clients living and working in the neighborhoods of East New York and Brownsville in their community, so that they may access services, meet with their attorneys, attend Know Your Rights trainings, and seek legal advice. We look forward to working with all of our community partners to ensure that the office remains responsive to the needs of the community.

Kevin Snover, Chairman of the Board
Gregory Cerchione, Secretary
Cindi Elibott Giglio, Treasurer
Jason Starr, Board Member
Andrea Bonina, Board Member
Robert J. Gunther, Jr., Board Member
Jeffrey Rona, Board Member
Lisa Schreibersdorf, Board Member and Executive Director

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is committed to high-quality and zealous representation on behalf of Brooklyn residents facing the criminal, family and immigration justice systems.   As part of this mission, BDS strives to ensure pro bono partnerships leverage resources and provide critical support for our clients in and out of the courtroom to ensure our clients obtain the best result possible in court and, hopefully, a better outcome in their lives.

BDS regularly partners with New York City’s major law firms, corporations and other members of the private bar on numerous cases from all of our practice areas.  Our pro bono partners have worked on individual cases, filed complaints in federal courts, co-authored amicus briefs, co-counseled hearings, filed and argued appeals and conducted research on novel areas of law.  BDS offers pro bono opportunities that not only present ideal opportunities for pro bono attorneys to get real courtroom experience and work with clients in need, but that result in just and better outcomes for our clients.  BDS offers both short- and long-term projects and has flexible co-counseling arrangements. Additionally, we offer comprehensive training programs, mentorship and supervision that will provide a meaningful experience for the pro bono attorney and the client.

Law firms, corporations, law-firm attorneys, and in-house counsel who are interested in joining Brooklyn Defender Services’ pro bono practice, please contact Molly Meltzer, Director of Pro Bono at mmeltzer@bds.org.

Retired or Transitioning Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities are welcomed at Brooklyn Defender Services. Our organization is one of the host organizations of the Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) established by former New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. Please visit the NY Courts website to register for the program and contact us at pbvolunteer@bds.org.

Individual Volunteers are incorporated into our practices on an as-needed basis. Please send a resume and cover letter indicating particular skills you have that are applicable to our work and your specific availability to pbvolunteer@bds.org.

BDS opened its doors in 1996 as the first borough-specific public defender office in New York City, with 38 employees working around donated conference room tables out of office space recently vacated by the New York Telephone Co. That first year we lived rent-free, while the building was being renovated around us, and handled 10,000 cases.

Today, BDS is one of the largest defender offices in the country, representing tens of thousands of clients in criminal, family, immigration and civil cases annually. Our staff of 300 includes 180 attorneys and 120 social workers, investigators, paralegals, re-entry specialists, jail liaisons, community organizers and policy specialists as well as dedicated advocates for youth, veterans and parents. Our specialized defense approach allows us to provide targeted services for clients with mental illness or developmental disabilities, adolescent clients, trafficking victims and veterans.

 

Our primary mission at BDS is to represent people facing serious accusations from the government. We recognize that our clients face many additional challenges and obstacles related to their poverty. As the largest Brooklyn-based legal services provider, BDS’s interdisciplinary staff provides supplemental legal and social services on site to our clients, including immigration attorneys, housing attorneys, an education attorney and social workers who specialize in areas such as mental health and youth advocacy.

826NYC

ARISE (Action for Reform in Special Education)

Attorney General Office Criminal Justice and Mental Health Roundtable

Black Alliance for Just Immigration

Brooklyn Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer’s Project

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund

Brooklyn Community Services

Brooklyn Justice Corps

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives

Brooklyn Law School

Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association

Brownsville Community Justice Center

Camelot

Caribbean American Center of New York

CASES

Center for Community Alternatives

Center  for Court Innovation

Center for Family Life

Child Welfare Organizing Project

Children’s Museum of the Arts

Christ Church Fellowship Baptist Church

Coalition for Effective Behavioral Health Reforms and Dignity in Schools Campaign

Common Justice

Drew House & Project Greenhope

Esperanza

EXALT

Families for Freedom

Families Rising

Fortune Society

Good Shepherd Services

Haitian Centers Council

Haitian Family Resource Center

Haitian Legal Immigration Legal Assistance Program

Health Home Initiative

La Union

Lutheran Social Services

Medgar Evers College Adult Education Department

MFY Legal Service

NAMI- NY

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

New York State Bar Association

NY Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) Coalition with Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders, Make the Road New York, Center for Popular Democracy, Vera Institute, Cardozo Law School & Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

NYU Law School

Osborne Association

P2PH

Parent Providers Coalition (Bronx Defenders, Center for Family Representation)

Pinkerton Fellows at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Pro Bono Scholars

Ridgewood-Bushwick Young Adult Literacy Program

Shorefront YM-YWHA, Brighton-Manhattan Beach, Inc.

Shriver Center

STEPS

TASC, EAC-Link

YCP

Young New Yorkers

Click to download Brooklyn Defender Services’ 2016 Annual Report. 

If you are a Brooklyn resident and cannot afford an attorney, BDS will provide free advice.

If you or a loved one are arrested in Brooklyn during the protests and need a lawyer, call this number for legal assistance 240-531-1971.

In fear of being arrested? Call 718-254-0700 and ask for the operator.

In fear of having your children removed? Call (646) 974-9343.

Visit our Community Office in East New York, located at:
566 Livonia Ave. (Between Alabama & Georgia Avenues)
Brooklyn, NY 11207
(646) 971-2722

We accept walk-in consultations on a variety of legal issues including ACS/child welfare, housing, and criminal matters. The office also offers regular Know Your Rights workshops open to community members. Past training topics included education rights, seeking employment with a criminal record, and what to do when ACS knocks on your door.

Current BDS clients, if you need to connect with your attorney or social worker, it is possible to arrange meetings to be held at the community office.

The office also has a variety of informational material and community resources, including know your rights fact sheets, community events, and voter registration forms.

For more information, call (646) 971-2722.

Please direct all press inquiries to mediarequests@bds.org.

Know Your Rights Info

CCI’s Reentry Guide

Rikers Island Visitors’ Guide

ATTORNEY LOOKUP
Locate by name any attorney admitted to the New York State Bar and will supply you with address, firm and phone numbers, as well as date and department of admission.

NY City Dept. of Corrections Inmate Lookup

NY State Dept. of Corrections Inmate Lookup

WEBCRIMS
Repository for pending criminal cases in the five boroughs and several surrounding counties with information on adjournment dates, charges, attorneys, etc.

Brooklyn Defender Services Arraignment Schedule 

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) represents approximately 30,000 clients per year in a variety of legal proceedings in New York City, primarily indigent criminal, family, and immigration defense. We also provide legal representation for our clients on a wide range of matters that impact their lives including housing, education, employment and immigration. We are one of the largest public defense providers; representing people who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted needs in a high volume and fast-paced setting.

BDS’s Policy & Advocacy team harnesses legal expertise and experience to advocate for change at City, State, and national levels in legal systems that affect the people BDS serves. The team is also responsible for fundraising and external communications.

See idealist.org for full job posting.

Job Description:
BDS is seeking a full time Paralegal to transfer to the Criminal Defense Paralegal Unit to assist
with a variety of paralegal functions. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated and
who has strong organizational skills.

See idealist.org for full job posting.

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks third year law students to sponsor for law-school-based fellowships. 
 
Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) represents approximately 30,000 clients per year in a variety of legal proceedings in New York City, primarily public defense representation in criminal, family, and immigration defense. We also provide legal representation for our clients on a variety of issues, including housing, education, employment and wide-reaching immigration legal services. We are one of the largest public defense providers in New York and the United States; representing people who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted needs in a high volume and fast-paced setting.  

See idealist.org for full job posting.

Brooklyn Defender Services is an interdisciplinary law office representing almost 30,000 indigent clients arrested each year with specialized legal services for young clients and those with immigration issues.
The Criminal Defense Practice represents clients facing both misdemeanor and felony cases in Brooklyn Supreme and Criminal Courts. BDS advocates for clients who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted needs in a very fast-paced setting.
BDS seeks an energetic social worker to become an integral part of the criminal defense team to advocate for clients, both in and out of court.

See idealist.org for full job posting.

BDS is one of the largest public defense providers in the United States. We represent more than 30,000 clients per year in various legal proceedings in New York City, primarily indigent criminal, family, and immigration defense. BDS represents clients who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted needs in a high volume and very fast-paced setting.

Brief Description of Job:

An experienced social worker to team up with attorneys that provide comprehensive legal representation to youth age 14 to 21 with misdemeanor and felony charges.

See idealist.org for full job posting.

In April 2017, New York State enacted statewide reforms intended to improve the right to counsel for people charged with a criminal offense, who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Amendments to New York County Law § 722-e and the addition of Executive Law § 832 (4) enacted by New York State Governor Cuomo and supported by the NYS legislature encourages and enables each criminal defense provider of legally mandated representation to furnish high quality, effective representation for every client. These recent legislative reforms offer public defense providers across the state the opportunity to hire additional attorneys, investigators, social workers and support staff and develop other resources to further their efforts in improving the overall quality of mandated representation.

Persons eager to explore opportunities within the New York State public defense arena who seek a challenging work environment that promotes diversity, embraces change, and provides leadership opportunities are encouraged to participate in this Public Defenders Career Fair.

See here for more information.

Criminal Defense Practice Brooklyn Defender Services’ intensive training program is designed for recent law graduates and attorneys who are new to the practice of criminal law in New York. Attorneys spend the first few weeks of their employment at BDS attending in-house lectures on various aspects of criminal defense, shadowing experienced attorneys and practicing their skills through simulations of various aspects of criminal practice.

The Appellate Division has granted us a student practice order which gives us the right to have law students and law graduates working for BDS to appear in court even though they are not yet admitted to practice law. This allows our interns, fellows and recent law graduates to handle cases with supervision.

Law Student Summer Internships

BDS has many relationships with local educational institutions, including clinical study programs from New York University Law School (the Offender Re-Entry Clinic, the Family Defense Clinic and the Community Defender Clinic), the Youth Justice Clinic of Cardozo Law School, the Criminal Defense Clinic of St. John’s School of Law and the CUNY Law School Family Law Concentration Clinic.

Brooklyn Defender Services also offers full-time summer internships to law students who have completed their second year of law school and have a commitment to public defense. The internship program lasts eight weeks. Intern duties may include legal research and writing, representation of clients in arraignments (under supervision), court appearances, client and witness interviews, trial preparation and investigation assistance.

Our law student summer internship program is extremely competitive and positions are limited. We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2021 internships.

• For the Immigration Practice internship is no longer accepting applications for the Summer 2021 program.
• For the Family Defense Practice internship, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Ambika Panday (apanday@bds.org) and Aisha Alleyne (aalleyne@bds.org).
• For the Civil Justice Practice internship, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Lauren Price (lprice@bds.org).
• The Criminal Defense Practice is no longer accepting applications for the Summer 2021 program.

All internships are volunteer positions. However, BDS will work with students to secure funding from outside sources or class credits where available.

 

Postgraduate Law Fellowships

Brooklyn Defender Services hosts fellows to work in our office on special projects. Each year, we aim to identify law student fellowship applications that meet our mission of serving underprivileged clients in Brooklyn through innovative proposals. These include Equal Justice Works fellowships, Skadden fellows, and Soros fellowships among others. We additionally welcome law students from around the country whose law schools have fellowship placement options, particularly post-graduate fellowships. Applications for fellowships for the upcoming year are now closed.

 

Investigative Assistant Internships

BDS seeks undergraduates and recent college graduates with a commitment to social and criminal justice issues for our Investigative Assistant Internship. Investigative assistants locate, review, and download video surveillance; photograph and document crime scenes; and conduct background research on witnesses. They additionally provide administrative assistance to the investigations unit.

While some of the investigative assistant’s work will take place in the office, much of it will be out in the field—in private homes, in local businesses, on the street and in the greater community. Ideal applicants should be comfortable working all over Brooklyn and should possess characteristics necessary to approach and interact with strangers about sensitive subjects. Candidates must be able to work in a collaborative setting and be able to produce high-quality written work.

Required qualifications and abilities:
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
– Interest in criminal defense and the rights of the accused
– Fluency in another language is highly desired, but not required

This internship is unpaid. We strongly encourage interns to apply to grants, fellowships or any other funding available through school or third-party organizations. Interns will be provided with unlimited monthly metro cards for the duration of their internship.

We are not currently accepting applications for the investigative internship.

Criminal Law Reform Issues

Adolescent Justice

• BDS Supports Raising the Age of Youthful Offender Status, A.4743B (PDF ) – June 1, 2018
• Check out our one-pager on Raising the Age of YO here.

Bail 

• BDS supports the Assembly Bail Reform proposal, A.10137A (PDF ) – May 29, 2018
• BDS Supports Comprehensive Bail Reform, A9955 & S3579A/A5033A (PDF )- April 16, 2018
• BDS Supports Reform of Laws Governing Charitable Bail Organizations, A4880A/S4776A (PDF ) – February 9, 2017

Discovery

• BDS Supports Comprehensive Discovery Reform, A4360A, S7722/A10135, & S6848/A7292 (PDF )- April 16, 2018
• Check out the Repeal the #BlindfoldLaw Coalition one-pager on the urgent need for discovery reform here.

Drug Enforcement

• BDS Strongly Opposes Increased Penalties for Opioids & K2 (PDF ) – March 26, 2018

Employment Collateral Consequences

• BDS Responds and Proposes Amendments to Governor Cuomo’s Proposed Elimination of Parole Fee and Changes to Conviction-Related Barrier to Employment and Participation in Education Councils in the FY19 Executive Budget (PDF ) – February 5, 2018

Gravity Knives

• BDS Memo of Support for Repealing Gravity Knife Law (PDF ) – May 22, 2019
• BDS Sends Letter to Governor Cuomo Urging His Signature on Gravity Knife Reform Legislation (PDF ) – October 11, 2017
• BDS Sends Letter to Governor Cuomo Urging His Signature on Gravity Knife Reform Legislation (PDF ) – June 28, 2016
• Check out our infographic on gravity knives, “Why Are Carpenters Being arrested for Carrying Their Tools?”  here.
• BDS Memos in Support of Bills to Decriminalize Possession of Common Workers’ Utility Knives, (A4821/S3675 PDF) (A9042/S6483 PDF ) – March 1, 2016
• Memo of Support to End the Criminalization of So-Called “Gravity Knives” S3675/A.4821 (PDF ) – April 23, 2015

Immigrants Rights

• BDS Memo in Support of the Protect Our Courts Act, A11013A/S8925 (PDF ) – June 14, 2018

Jail and Prison Conditions

• BDS Supports Access to Feminine Hygiene Products in NYS Jails and Prisons, S6176/A588A (PDF ) – June 14, 2017

Police Asset Forfeiture

• BDS Response to Governor Cuomo’s Proposed Changes to Asset Forfeiture in the FY19 Executive Budget (PDF ) – February 5, 2018

Prostitution and Trafficking

• BDS Memo in Support for Expanding New York’s Vacatur Law for Survivors of Trafficking, S4997/A4540 (PDF ) – June 1, 2018
• BDS Memo in Support for Repeal of New York’s Penal Law 240.37, S8107A/A9704A (PDF ) – June 1, 2018

Sealing

• BDS Memo in Support for Legislation to Seal Certain Criminal Convictions and “Ban the Box” on Job Applications, A2699/ S5593 & A2990/S2029 (PDF ) – June 12, 2015

Solitary Confinement 

• BDS Expresses Strong Support for the Humane Alternatives to Long Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act, A3080B/S4784A (PDF ) – March 8, 2018
• BDS Memo in Support of Restricting Segregated Confinement for Juveniles and Special Populations, A1346A & A1347 (PDF ) – April 3, 2015

Speedy Trial

• BDS Memo in Support of Speedy Trial Reform – Kalief’s Law, S7006B & A3055A (PDF )- April 16, 2018
• BDS Releases Statement in Support of Kalief’s Law, S5988A/A8296A (PDF ) – March 1, 2016
• BDS Expresses Strong Support for Kalief’s Law, S5988/A7841 (PDF ) – August 18, 2015

 

Child Welfare Law Reform Issues

Adoption Subsidies

• BDS Supports Amendments to Monthly Adoption Subsidies to Foster Parents, S6518/A8313 (PDF ) – May 30, 2017

Family Court ACDs

• BDS Joins in Memo in Support of Expanding Option of Adjournments in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD) & Suspended Judgments in Child Protective Proceedings in the Family Court, S.4767/A6837 (PDF ) – April 16, 2018
• BDS Joins in Memo in Support of Expanding Option of Adjournments in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD) & Suspended Judgments in Child Protective Proceedings in the Family Court, S.4767/A6837 (PDF ) – May 8, 2017

Kinship Care

• BDS Joins in Memo in Support of Kinship Guardianship Assistance Legislation, S4833/A7554 (PDF ) – May 30, 2017

Post-Termination Contact

• BDS Memo in Support of the Preserving Family Bonds Act, S4203/A2199 (PDF ) – April 2019
• Preserving Family Bonds Coalition Joint Memo in Support (PDF) – April 2019

February 11, 2021

BDS sends coalition letter to Governor Cuomo and Democratic leadership outlining family defense legislative priorities for 2021 (PDF)

December 26, 2020

BDS sends coalition letter to Governor Cuomo and Democratic leadership outlining criminal legal priorities for 2021 (PDF)

November 16. 2020

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction (PDF)

October 28, 2020

BDS testifies before the New York City Council General Welfare Committee (PDF)

October 19, 2020

BDS testifies before the The New York City Taxi and and Limousine Commission about proposed rule changes (PDF)

October 16, 2020

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committees on Education and Health on Reopening NYC Public Schools (PDF)

October 13, 2020

BDS submits Public Comment on Proposed Rule re Biometric Data Collection (PDF)

September 30, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Health and Hospitals about NYC’s COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing Program. (PDF)

September 22, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYS Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections & Committee on Health about the impact of COVID-19 on prisons and jails. (PDF)

BDS submits letter to New York State Court’s Commission on Equal Justice in the Courts on structural racism in the Unified Court System. (PDF)

Report to the New York State Court’s Commission on Equal Justice in the Courts submitted by The Judicial Friends Association. (PDF)

September 21, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Criminal Justice & Committee on Hospitals about the Department of Correction and Correctional Health Services’ management of COVID-19 in jails. (PDF)

September 18, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on the exclusion of immigrants in COVID-19 relief. (PDF)

BDS testifies before the NYC Council about the looming eviction crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (PDF)

September 15, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on issues facing NYC renters, including discrimination against people who use housing vouchers. (PDF)

May 19, 2020

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committees on Criminal Justice & the Justice System Oversight Hearing on COVID-19 in City Jails and Juvenile Detention Centers.

February 28, 2020

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committees on Immigration and Hospitals Oversight Hearing ICE’s Escalated Attacks on NYC Policies Protecting Immigrants. 

February 25, 2020

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Public Safety Jointly with the Committee on Justice System Oversight Hearing DNA Collection and Storage in NYC. (PDF)

February 24, 2020

BDS Testifies before NYC Council Committee on Justice System and Committee on Housing and Buildings Oversight Meeting and Introduction of Bills Int 1104-2018 and Int 1529-2019. (PDF)

February 10, 2020

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Public Safety on Preventing Hate and Violence (PDF)

February 3, 2020

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing on Violence in City Jails (PDF)

January 21, 2020

BDS submits Public Comment on DHS and DOJ Proposed Rule Re: Procedures for Asylum and Bars to Asylum Eligibility

January 13, 2020

BDS submits Public Comment on DHS Proposed Rule Re: Asylum Applications, Interview, and Employment Authorization for Applicants

December 30, 2019

BDS submits Public Comment on USCIS Proposed Rule of the USCIS Fee Schedule

December 18, 2019 

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committee on Public Safety Hearing on the POST Act (PDF)

http://bds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019.12.11-City-Council-Testimony-Day-Fines-and-Collateral-Consequences.pdf

December 11, 2019

BDS testified before the New York City Council Committees on the Justice System and on Government Operations about day fines and collateral consequences of drug arrests and conviction (PDF)

December 10, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYS Assembly Committee on Codes and Committee on Correction Hearing on Sealing of Criminal Records and Expansion of Youthful Offender Status (PDF)

November 21, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYS Assembly on family separation in the child welfare system and family court system

November 15, 2019

BDS submits Public Comment on USCIS Proposed Rules on Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions, 84 FR 55250.

November 14, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYS Assembly on pre-trial services and ATI’s in light of the new bail statute (PDF)

November 12, 2019

BDS submits Public Comment on DNA-Sample Collection for Immigration Detainees 84 Fed. Reg 563973.

October 17, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Codes Hearing on Potential Legislative Changes to Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law (PDF)

September 23, 2019

BDS submits Public Comment on Department of Homeland Security “Notice on Designating Aliens for Expedited Removal 84 Fed. Reg. 35409.

September 3, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Immigration (PDF)

August 9, 2019

BDS testifies before the Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids Addiction and Overdose (PDF)

June 27, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Public Safety Hearing on Ints. 0567-2018, 0635-2018, 1244-2018, 1553-2019, 1548-2019, & T2018-2223, & Res. 0866-2019. (PDF)

May 22, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on Implementation of Pre-Trial Justice Reforms Enacted by New York State (PDF)

May 1, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing on the Experience of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in NYC Jails (PDF)

April 29, 2019

BDS joins the Bronx Defenders, the Legal Aid Society, Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem and NY County Defender Services in urging enactment of a slate of criminal justice reforms before session ends (PDF)

April 10, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committees on Immigration and the Justice System Oversight Hearing on ICE Out of New York Courts Resolution 0828-2019 regarding Protect Our Courts Act (A.2176 / S.425). (PDF)

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on General Welfare and Committee on Hospitals Joint Oversight Hearing on the Impact of Marijuana Policies on Child Welfare. (PDF)

February 27, 2019

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committees on Public Safety, Justice System, Consumer Affairs & Business Licensing, and Civil & Human Rights Public Hearing on Marijuana Legalization. (PDF)

February 26, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing on Department of Correction Programming. (PDF)

February 25, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on Family Separation in Criminal Cases (PDF)

February 4, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on General Welfare Oversight Hearing on Client Experience at HRA Centers. (PDF)

January 16, 2019

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Juvenile Justice Hearing on Evaluating Programs that Aim to Reduce Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Youth. (PDF)

December 19, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Immigration Oversight Hearing on the Need for Legal Representation in Immigration Court Under Trump. (PDF)

December 3, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committees on Criminal Justice and the Justice System Oversight Hearing: “Why Does the City Make it so Hard to Post Bail?” (PDF)

November 27, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committees on Justice System and General Welfare Oversight Hearing on Removals from Parents and Caretakers In Child Welfare Cases. (PDF)

BDS testifies before New York Senators Luis Sepúlveda and Gustavo Rivera’s Public Forum on New York State’s Parole Process, Structure of the Parole Board, and Data Indicating Systemic Bias in Parole Decisions. (PDF)

November 14, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Committee on Hospitals, Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction and Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing on Correctional Health (PDF)

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committees on Immigration, Health & General Welfare on the impact of the proposed “public charge” rule in NYC (PDF)

November 14, 2018

BDS submits testimony to the NYS Assembly in support of guaranteed access to Medication-Assisted Treatment in New York’s prisons and jails (PDF)

October 25, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Governmental Operations and Committee on Immigration Oversight Hearing on Language Access Implementation Plans. (PDF)

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Justice System Oversight Hearing on Pay Hearing and Retention Rates for ADAs and Public Defenders (PDF)

October 16, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York State Assembly on legalizing the adult use of marijuana (PDF)

Shakira Kennedy, an advocate and parent who is represented by BDS’ Family Defense Practice, testifies before the New York State Assembly on the harms of cannabis prohibition on New York’s racially and economically marginalized families (PDF)

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Education on employment and school transportation (PDF)

October 3, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committees on Governmental Operations and Criminal Justice on voting rights for people on parole (PDF)

September 27, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on the Justice System Oversight Hearing on the Cost of Justice (PDF)

BDS testifies before the New York State Commission on Parental Legal Representation (See PDF for attachments)

September 17, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Immigration and the Committee on Youth Services Oversight Hearing on LGBTQ immigrant youth in NYC (PDF)

September 6, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committees Immigration and Youth Services Oversight Hearing on Abolishing ICE (PDF)

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committees on Criminal Justice and Women Oversight Hearing Examining Sexual Abuse and Harassment in City Jails (PDF)

July 12, 2018

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Oversight Hearing on the impacts of the Trump Administration Family Separation Policy in NYC (PDF)

June 21, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on the Justice System Oversight Hearing on Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Criminal Court (PDF)

June 13, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Public Safety Oversight Hearing on NYPD’s Gang Takedown Effects (PDF)

June 13, 2018

BDS Submits Comments to the NYS Dept. of Financial Services & NYS Dept. of State Listening Session on Abuses by the Bail Bond Industry (PDF)

May 2, 2018 

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on the harm of the commercial bail bond industry (PDF)

April 24, 2018

BDS submits written testimony to the  NYC Council Committee on Immigration Oversight Hearing on NYC Support for Immigrant Parents of Children Ages 0-5 Years (PDF)

April 23, 2018

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing on Safety and Security in City Jails (PDF)

April 18, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Committee on Justice System Oversight Hearing on  NYC’s Preparedness to Raise the Age and Reso. 0283-2018 (PDF)

March 26, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Budget Hearing on Immigration (PDF)

February 27, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York City Council Committee on Justice System on Issues with Criminal Discovery Practices (PDF )

February 26, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York City Council in Support of Marijuana Legalization and, in the Interim, Immediately Ending Marijuana Arrests and Prosecutions (PDF  )

January 11, 2018

BDS testifies before the New York State Assembly Hearing on Legalizing & Regulating Adult Sale and Possession of Marijuana and its Prospective Effects on Public Health and the Criminal Legal System (PDF  )

December 14, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Oversight Hearing on Examining Forensic Science Practices in the NYPD Crime Lab and OCME (PDF )

December 4, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Council Oversight Hearing on Progress in Closing Rikers (PDF )

November 28, 2017

BDS comments: Proposed state regulations on solitary confinement in local jails only codify the practice of torture (PDF )

November 21, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council on NYPD’s role in school safety and efforts to improve school climate (PDF )

November 16, 2017

BDS, along with 100 community and advocacy groups across NYS, submit letter to Governor Cuomo with recommendations for changes to New York’s pretrial detention system

November 15, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council’s Oversight Hearing on the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD (PDF )

October 30, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYS Assembly Hearing on Healthcare in NYS Prisons and Local Jails (PDF )

October 26, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Juvenile Justice Hearing on Reentry Programs for Formerly Incarcerated Youth (PDF )

October 25, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council oversight hearing on violence in city jails (PDF )

October 23, 2017

Do You Qualify to Have Your Criminal Record Sealed? A BDS One-Pager. (PDF )

October 16, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Public Safety (PDF )

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee on Technology on Algorithm Transparency (PDF )

September 27, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Council Oversight Hearing on Safe and Accessible Shelters for Homeless Youth (PDF )

September 20, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Aging in support of Int. No. 1616–– a Local Law in relation to establishing a temporary task force on post-conviction reentry for older adults (PDF )

September 18, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Courts and Legal Services Hearing on New York’s Integrated Domestic Violence Courts (PDF )

September 13, 2017

BDS testifies before the NYC Council Committee oversight hearing on Best Practices for NYC Agencies, Courts, And Law Enforcement Authorized to Certify Immigrant Victims for U and T Visas (PDF )

September 7, 2017

BDS testifies before NYC Council Committee on Public Safety  & Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services joint Oversight Hearing on NYPD’s Responses to Persons in Mental Health Crisis (PDF )

More

Brooklyn Defender Services handles approximately 40 percent of the overall criminal cases for the Borough of Brooklyn, making our client profile indicative, if not entirely representational, of the wider law enforcement trends across the city, as they pertain to arrests, custody and court adjudication.

More

BDS’s Special Litigation Counsel works with BDS defenders and clients, outside counsel and activists, to identify systemic criminal justice deficiencies and constitutional violations that unjustly affect criminal justice outcomes for our clients. Once identified, special litigation lawyers strategically litigate those issues in State and Federal courts to improve both process and outcomes for all accused New Yorkers. From challenging unreasonable bail conditions when a case starts to overbroad barriers to re-entry when it’s over, BDS is striving to make the criminal justice system accountable to those it intends to serve through its growing impact litigation practice.

Brooklyn Defender Services has amassed a wealth of experience and expertise on the complexities that inform our client’s lives and their involvement in the justice system. BDS works with each of the courts and other stakeholders to improve procedures and policies that affect our clients in each of the courts where we are the institutional provider.

As zealous advocates for our clients and the communities we serve, it is also our duty to contribute to the larger conversations taking place within the criminal, family and immigration justice systems in order to facilitate meaningful changes. Through our presence on working groups and coalitions, the use of our external communications, position papers, blog, and other forums we seek to educate system players, legislators and community members about the critical issues facing our clients and give voice to some of New York’s most vulnerable populations.

• Open Letter to Senate Democrats on ‘Raise the Age’
• Legislative Memo: Raise the Age Reform Will Cause Additional Delays in Resolving Child Welfare Cases in Family Court
• New York State Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Raise the Age Position Paper
• ‘Raise the Age’ article in Atticus Magazine from Staff Attorney Susannah Karlsson
• Bringing the Best of Both Worlds: Recommendations for Criminal Justice Reform for Older Adolescents, Cardozo Law Review Article by BDS Executive Director Lisa Schreibersdorf
• Getting it Right: Raising the Age and Justice System Reforms for Adolescents, Blog Post from BDS Executive Director Lisa Schreibersdorf

• A Right to Attorney in NYC Immigration Court
• The New York Family Unity Project