Contacting a BDS Staff Member

<h3><strong>Contacting a BDS Staff Member</strong></h3>
<h4><strong>Are you trying to contact your Brooklyn Defenders lawyer, social work or other staff member? </strong></h4>
<p>If you know the name of your Brooklyn Defenders lawyer, social worker, or other staff member, click <a href="https://bds.org/find-a-defender" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to find their email address.</p>
<p>If you don't know the name of your lawyer, social worker, or other staff member, call (718) 254-0700.</p>

Arrests/Police

<h3>Arrests/Police</h3>
<h4>Are the police looking for you? Do you fear being arrested? </h4>
<p>You should speak to an attorney who can advise you about your rights before you speak with the police. Call our main number at 718-254-0700.</p>
<h4>Was somebody you know arrested within the last 24 hours? </h4>
<p>Call our main number at 718-254-0700.<br /></p>
<h4><strong>​Other resources related to ongoing cases:​ </strong><br /></h4>
<ul><li>To find information on pending criminal cases including court dates, charges, and other information, visit <a href="https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyWelcome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WebCrims look-up tool</a>.</li></ul>
<h4><strong>Are you looking for someone in jail? <br /></strong></h4>
<p>To find someone in New York City jails, use this <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doc/inmate-info/inmate-lookup.page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a>. </p>
<p>To find someone in New York State facilities, use this <a href="http://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a>.<br /></p>

<h3>ACS</h3>
<h4>I think ACS is investigating me.</h4>
<p>This is a serious matter and we can help. You do not have to speak to anyone before consulting with an attorney. Contact us immediately in one of these ways: </p>
<ol><li>If you have a Brooklyn Defenders attorney, social worker, or other staff that you are working with, click <a href="https://bds.org/find-a-defender" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to find their email address. </li><li>If you are not currently represented by Brooklyn Defenders, call our Early Defense Hotline at (646) 974-9343.</li></ol>
<h4><strong>Resources for Parents &amp; Caregivers </strong></h4>
<p>Learn more about your rights, <a href="https://yourfamilyyourrights.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </p>
<p>Learn more about what parents need to know about ACS, <a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/what_you_need_to_know_about_ACS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p>Learn more about what incarcerated parents need to know about ACS, <a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/What_Do_Incarcerated_Parents_Need_To_Know_About_ACS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. <br /></p>

Release from Jail or Prison

<h3>Release from Jail or Prison</h3>
<h4>Were you just released from jail or prison?</h4>
<p>If you are a current or former BDS client, we can help. We can help with re-entry services. Call our main number at 718-254-0700, write us at Brooklyn Defender Services 177 Livingston Street, 7th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201, or email info@bds.org.</p>

ICE or Deportation

<h3>ICE or Deportation</h3>
<p>For help regarding someone who has been arrested or detained by ICE, call our Immigration Practice at (718) 564-6290. </p>
<p>If you are looking for advice about your immigration status, contact our Immigration Practice at (718) 564-6290.</p>
<p>To learn more about your rights, visit We Have Rights: An Empowerment Campaign to Prepare for and Safely Defend Our Rights During Encounters with Immigration &amp; Customs Enforcement (ICE), <a href="https://www.wehaverights.us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. <br /></p>

Eviction or Housing

<h3><strong>Eviction or Housing</strong></h3>
<h4><strong>Are you being evicted or is your landlord threatening to evict you?</strong></h4>
<p>If you are a current of Brooklyn Defenders, call our Civil Justice Practice at (332) 213-4193. </p>
<p>If you are not a current or former client of Brooklyn Defenders, call 311 and ask for the City's Tenant Helpline. Click <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/legal-services-for-tenants.page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more information about New York City's legal services for tenants. </p>
<h4><strong>Additional External Resources </strong></h4>
<p><strong>Shelter</strong></p>
<p>If you need emergency temporary housing, shelter is available for individuals and families. For general shelter information, click <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/shelter.page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.<br /></p>
<p>If you are an individual applying for shelter visit, click <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for information about locations and how to access shelter.</p>
<p>If you are a family applying for shelter, click <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/families-with-children-applying.page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for information about the intake center location (PATH) and how to access shelter.<br /></p>
<p><strong>Housing </strong></p>
<p>For information on how to look for housing in New York City, please see our Housing Relocation Guide, <a href="https://bds.org/assets/files/Housing-Relocation-Guide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> (<a href="https://bds.org/assets/files/Housing-Relocation-Guide-Spanish.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aquí </a>en Español).<br /></p>

Education

<h3>Education</h3>
<p>If you are a current client of Brooklyn Defenders, call (718) 254-0700 or email us at <a href="mailto:education@bds.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">education@bds.org</a>. If you are a former client or not yet our client, call our Community Office at (646) 971-2722. We can assist you with: </p>
<p>•	school transfers and enrollment </p>
<p>• school transportation</p>
<p>•	suspension or discipline</p>
<p>•	special education </p>
<p>• services for people with developmental disabilities (OPWDD)</p>
<p>•	special circumstances for children in foster care or separated families</p>
<p>• special circumstances for children who are incarcerated or in residential placement. <br /></p>
<h4>Know Your Rights </h4>
<p>To learn more about your rights relating to ACS and your child's school, visit BDS' <a href="https://yourfamilyyourrights.org/get-informed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your Family, Your Rights site</a>. </p>

Employment

<h3>Employment</h3>
<p>If you are a current client of Brooklyn Defenders, call (718) 254-0700 or email us at <a href="mailto:employment@bds.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">employment@bds.org</a>. If you are a former client or not yet our client, call our Community Office at (646) 971-2722. We can assist with:</p>
<p>• employment discrimination based on contact with the criminal legal system</p>
<p>• suspensions from work due to an open court case</p>
<p>• how to apply for sealing of a criminal record, or get a certificate of good conduct or certificate or relief from disabilities</p>
<p>• unemployment insurance</p>
<p>• paid and unpaid leave</p>
<p>• workers' compensation or temporary disability insurance</p>
<p>• reasonable accommodations with work or workplace safety, or </p>
<p>• wage and hour concerns.<br /></p>
<h4><strong>Additional External Resources</strong></h4>
<p><strong>Unemployment Assistance</strong></p>
<p>If you have lost work or hours, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance or other forms of aid. To see the New York Department of Labor website, click <a href="https://www.ny.gov/services/unemployment-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </p>

Public Assistance, Medicaid, or Other Benefits

<h3>Public Assistance, Medicaid, or Other Benefits</h3>
<h4><strong><strong>Do you need help accessing benefits?</strong></strong></h4>
<p>If you are a current or former client of Brooklyn Defenders, call our Civil Justice Practice at (332) 213-4193. <br /></p>
<h4><strong>Additional External Resources </strong></h4>
<p><strong>HRA</strong></p>
<p>To apply for public assistance or SNAP, click <a href="https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> or via the HRA Access app.</p>
<p><strong>Food</strong></p>
<p>For food assistance, call 311 for locations or click <a href="https://www.foodbanknyc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </p>

<h2>BDS has a Community Office in East New York. </h2>
<p>Due to the pandemic, contact our Community Office through phone or email. </p>

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