Our Criminal Defense Adult Representation Team advocates for clients over 22 years old and older. We have teams of social workers who are experts in every Criminal Defense Unit specialization – including Homicide, Women’s Defense, Veterans and Mental Health. Our social workers collaborate with attorneys, connect clients to services, provide written and oral advocacy and conduct visits to incarcerated clients.

Our Criminal Defense Adolescent Representation Team advocates for youth up to age 21 who are arrested and prosecuted in the juvenile or adult court system. We support clients and their loved ones by making regular visits to homes, service providers, court appearances, and when applicable, detention centers or jails. Our Education Social Workers also advocate for the education rights of our clients and their children.

Our Family Defense Social Work Team is comprised of social workers and parent advocates who support parents as they navigate the family regulation system. We advocate for parents in the early stages of an ACS investigation to prevent family separation. In the event that families are separated, our social workers collaborate with attorneys to achieve family reunification.

We provide advocacy for parents who have both criminal and family court matters. Our Integrated Defense Social Workers support clients in the early stages of an ACS investigation and participate in family team meetings, child safety conferences and other administrative proceedings.

We work to support clients who have pending cases in immigration court, or whose immigration status may be impacted by their criminal legal system involvement. Our Immigration social workers provide written advocacy for clients in deportation proceedings and other legal matters. We also conduct visits to detained individuals and help non-citizen clients access resources.

Our specially-trained advocates provide services for those who have been incarcerated in New York’s jails and prisons. After release from incarceration or completing an alternative to incarceration program, BDS’ Reentry Team helps people to find housing, gainful employment, continuing education, therapeutic programing, and achieve a successful reintegration into the community.