Queens Defenders

For the first time in fifteen years the Section 8 Waitlist is temporarily opening up for 200,000 randomly selected individuals. Throughout this week Low-Income New Yorkers can apply for their spot on the waitlist, and Queens Defenders is here to help!

Individuals who are interested in applying can do so through the link below, or can stop by the Queens Defenders Housing Clinic in Far Rockaway and Jamaica from 9AM to 7PM to have our housing experts and dedicated volunteers assist you through the application. The application is only open through Saturday June 8th, so apply today!

https://apply.section8.nycha.info/

Queens Defenders' Attorney in Charge of Policy & Law Reform Gina Mitchell spoke with Law360 about the crucial need for maintaining the recent changes to New York's Discovery laws.

"We've absolutely had cases [since the reform] where we've gotten body-worn camera footage and there was no lawful basis for the stop and seizure or search of our client or the police are saying that the client says something, and they absolutely do not, so it's allowed us to investigate. We're talking about wrongful convictions and people spending more time in prison or having devastating collateral consequences. I just think it is deeply problematic to somehow put that in the same conversation around attrition and staffing issues in the D.A.'s office."

NY Discovery Reform Feud Simmers Between DAs, Defenders - Law360 Four years after New York imposed new requirements on prosecutors to more promptly hand over evidence to defendants in criminal cases, data suggests that district attorneys’ offices are still struggling to comply. In the meantime, experts and advocates say many are quietly working to tweak the ref...

Last week, participants in Queens Defenders' Emerging Leaders Program joined activists across the State in calling on lawmakers to pass the Act. They joined rallies, toured the State Capitol, were acknowledged on the floor of the New York State Assembly, and spoke with legislators about the issues affecting their communities.

Thank you to NYS Senator Leroy Comrie, NYS Senator James Sanders, Jr., Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, and Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson for taking the time to speak with young advocates! .

TODAY in Albany we're joining Justice Organizations across the state to call on legislators to support .

New Yorkers need Communities Not Cages to:
❌ ELIMINATE MANDATORY MINIMUMS - 98% of convictions are a result of plea deals - not a trial. Mandatory minimum sentences drive mass incarceration, strip judges of discretion + coerce guilty pleas.

❌ END EXTREME SENTENCING - Over the past 50 years, NY’s laws have resulted in increasingly harsh sentences — with no opportunity for judges to review + reconsider individual cases. It’s time for a Second Look.

✅ SUPPORT TRANSFORMATION - In the ‘90s, NY slashed programs for incarcerated people + dramatically cut time that could be earned off sentences. Tell your legislators we need the Earned Time Act to support personal transformation, ❤️ And bring our moms and kids home!

Contact your lawmakers and demand they stand with us using this tool: bit.ly/CNCNY

This join Mothers across New York in advocating for young New Yorkers to have the same rights as every American -- the right to an attorney when being questioned by the police. End unlawful interrogations today and tell your legislators that you support the Youth Interrogation Bill (S.1099A – Bailey/ A.8923A Hevesi).

Write to your legislators here: https://p2a.co/NgjFCF3

GREAT NEWS -- the Youth Interrogation bill passed through the Assembly Codes committee, referring it to Ways & Means!

You can keep the pressure on lawmakers in Albany to support and pass this session by signing up for the In Re Gault phone banking event on Wednesday May 15th here: https://loom.ly/pePMec8

HAPPENING NOW: We are in Albany to demand !

For decades, NY has relied on jails and prisons to take care of New Yorkers with mental health and substance use issues.

And what have we gotten with this investment? More sickness, more death, and a cycle of recidivism that does not stop because we fail to invest in treatment and over-invest in jails and prisons.

We cannot rely on incarceration to address mental and public health. We need community-based treatment, not jail.

Follow us today as we rally in Albany to demand and tell the Governor and your state representatives to support the legislation as well.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week at the Queens Borough Hall Helen Marshall Atrium for Denim Day Queens! We're proud to take part in this important day, and look forward to coming together again for tomorrow.

Thank you to our panelists, the Queens Borough President's Office, Deputy Borough President Ebony Young, & our sponsors whose support allows us to continue uplifting individuals impacted by domestic violence throughout Queens.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Delivering Good, Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Safe Horizon, & The NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

Gina Mitchell, Attorney-in-Charge for Law Reform and Policy at Queens Defenders, spoke with the Queens Daily Eagle about similarities in the Adams’ NYPD when compared to Giuliani’s.

“I think that data like this demonstrates a return to broken windows policing, which is applied in a very discriminatory fashion,” Mitchell told the Eagle over the phone on Monday.

“I just think that it's obviously tracking with his administration because of the stark increase in 2022,” she added, calling the former-police captain mayor “notoriously pro-law enforcement.”

https://loom.ly/FOAXGBU

Summonses skyrocket under Adams administration, report finds — Queens Daily Eagle Criminal and civil court summonses in New York City skyrocketed since Mayor Eric Adams took office and disproportionately affected on Black, brown and underserved communities in Queens and other boroughs, according to two new reports.

We are thrilled to announce that Queens Defenders has once again been awarded a grant by New York Bar Foundation in support of our innovative youth programs that work to prepare court-involved young people for lives free of criminal legal system involvement.

Following last weeks victory in the Senate, we celebrate yesterdays win in the Assembly as has passed through the Children & Families committee!

We join New York City's Public Defender Organizations in opposing the adoption of language that would allow for enhanced sentences for individuals with successive incidents of theft from different locations.

Learn more about the proposed changes below.

JOINT MEMO IN OPPOSITION TO SENATE PROPOSAL PART WW of S8305-B - Queens Defenders JOINT MEMO IN OPPOSITION TO SENATE PROPOSAL PART WW of S8305-B March 22nd, 2024 We strongly oppose adoption of the language proposed in Part WWW of S8305B which would make successive alleged incidents of theft from different locations subject to the aggregation of value of the alleged stolen goods a...

Queens Defenders' Executive Director Lori Zeno is quoted in the Queens Daily Eagle sharing her support for the proposed expansion to the District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness (DALF) program.

“Underinvestment in the District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Loan Forgiveness program is an underinvestment in our city’s public defenders, who are tasked with protecting the rights of the most vulnerable members of our community from a legal system that criminalizes poverty, mental illness, and rampant and increasing inequity. It is no secret that public defenders forgo higher salaries and benefits in the private sector in their commitment to a public service career. Increasing the DALF award cap for public defenders will help address the attrition crisis being experienced by legal services organizations in New York and show our public defenders that they are vital – and valued – members of our legal system.”

Read the Full Article At: https://queenseagle.com/all/2024/3/13/queens-pols-bill-to-expand-atty-loan-forgiveness-program-passed-by-senate

We alongside all the New York City Public Defenders, are appalled to learn of the alleged sexual abuse at Rikers' Island brought to light by reporting from . We will continue to call for the closure of Rikers' and an end to the abuse and trauma experienced at that facility.

NY lawmakers vow legislation and hearings in response to sexual abuse allegations at Rikers Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal proposed reopening the window for victims of sexual abuse to file claims outside the statute of limitations.

We join other justice organizations in celebrating the passing of the Youth Interrogation Bill through the Senate Children & Families committee!

Let your representatives know you support young New Yorkers

https://loom.ly/2Emze6E

We join 70 legal organizations in urging lawmakers to restore $234m to New York's Indigent Legal Services Fund and appropriate adequate funding for public defense services for people in need of an attorney in criminal and family courts.

Read our letter here:

Public Defenders Share Letter To Gov. Kathy Hochul - Saving IOLA Wasn’t Enough. Stop the ILSF Sweep & Fund Public Defense. - Queens Defenders March 21, 2024   Governor Kathy Hochul Governor of New York State   Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins President Pro Tempore & Majority Leader New York State Senate   Hon. Carl E. Heastie New York State Assembly Speaker New York State Assembly RE: Saving IOLA Wasn’t Enough. Stop the ILSF Sweep & Fund ...

We join the entire defender community in condemning Governor Hocul's plan to deploy the National Guard and state law enforcement personnel to conduct searches in New York City subway stations, proposed legislation expanding judicial discretion to ban New Yorkers from public transit, and expansion of co-responder models that utilize New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers as part of a mental health crisis response team.

Learn more at:

Public Defenders, Civil Rights Groups, Advocacy Organizations, and NYC Officials Send Letter to Gov. Hochul Condemning Deployment of National Guard and State Police into NYC Subway System - Queens Defenders (New York City, NY) – Today, New York City Public Defenders, civil rights organizations, advocacy organizations, and a number of New York City elected officials sent a letter to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, condemning her five-point plan that includes the deployment of National Guard and ...

Today, Queens Defenders Client Advocate Bruce Bryan gave testimony before the New York City Council's Committee on Public Safety.

Bruce offered his story of being wrongfully convicted and serving 29 years in prison as an example of how nefarious tactics in police investigations lead to wrongful convictions and an adverse relationship between the police and the community.

"I am horrified to see so many other young black and brown people having their rights violated during police investigations, and tragically and irrevocably interrupted through wrongful incarceration. On the State level, we are seeing momentum with the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act and the Right 2 Silence Act which guarantees legal counsel to juveniles. Here in New York City, we can and must enact meaningful legislation to ensure that another life is not lost to a wrongful conviction and protect the rights and lives of Black and Brown residents who are so often the victims of deceitful and nefarious police tactics. "

During today's NYC Council hearing of the Public Safety Committee, NYPD officials noted that only 37 percent of young people invoke their Miranda rights or right to counsel when stopped by the police.

Queens Defenders' Initiative can help increase this figure for young people interacting with law enforcement.

Visit queensdefenders.org/justice456/ to and protect yourself.

Justice 456 - Queens Defenders Justice Matters. It's Your Right. Protect Yourself / Know Your RightsThe United States Constitution’s 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments are designed to ensure that people are treated fairly if they are suspected or arrested for committing a crime. These constitutional rights are not always respected an...

The Hochul administration’s plan to sweep $100 million from the IOLA fund – which supports free civil legal aid for over 639,000 New Yorkers in need – will negatively impact the poorest and most vulnerable New Yorkers.

Queens Defenders is united with the defense community to condemn the taking of money from IOLA funds and calls on legislators to take action on this issue.

We join legal and youth organizations in Albany and across the state in calling on legislators to support the Youth Interrogation Act (S.1099/A.8923) and put an end to police interrogations of young people without consultation with a lawyer.

Commentary: Protect youth during police interrogations Legislation would ensure young people consult with a lawyer before they waive their rights.

Last week, the Queens Defenders Policy Program Speaker Series hosted Sarah Chu, Director of Policy and Reform at the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law, where she leads the Center's forensic science policy initiatives.

Ms. Chu presented on the NYPD's latent print issue -- the delayed notification of fingerprint misidentification that may have contributed to wrongful convictions and due process violations in dozens of identified cases.

Today, members of Queens Defenders' Young Adult programs traveled to Albany to call on lawmakers to support the which would expand alternatives to incarceration, diversion, and immediate record sealing for young people who are arrested in New York State.

During , we commemorate the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans to our history and culture while remembering the incalculable debt owed to Black Americans for enduring slavery, lynchings, racial terrorism, segregation, harassment, and police violence.

As part of our New York City Council Funded Domestic Violence & Empowerment (DOVE) Initiative, Queens Defenders will be sharing events & resources for young adults throughout Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens & young adults. 33% of American teens will experience some form of abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults.

Join us on February 6th on Wear Orange Day to show your support.

Queens Defenders applauds the New York City Council for its steadfast leadership in ensuring police accountability with the passage of the How Many Stops Act and the humane treatment of individuals incarcerated in New York City Jails through the Ban Solitary Confinement in City Jails Bill.

City Council overrides mayor’s vetoes on two law enforcement bills Projecting a united front, the council defied a public relations campaign by the mayor to cast both bills as endangering public safety.

Queens Defenders joined hundreds of advocates in Albany with to urge our legislators to pass three crucial reform bills:

The Second Look Act
Eliminate Mandatory Minimums
The Earned Time Act

Learn more and take action at https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/

We strongly urge the New York City Council to override Mayor Adams' veto of the Banning Solitary Confinement in City Jails Bill (Int. 549-A), which will force the Department of Corrections to change how it operates restrictive housing and its use of solitary confinement in NYC jails.

How does DOC punish detainees on Rikers Island? NY1 looked at the restrictive housing policies of the DOC.

Last week, Queens Defenders Client Advocate, Bruce Bryan, spoke at the launch event about serving 29 years in prison for a wrongful conviction. Bruce is sharing his story to inspire legislatures and Governor Hochul to pass the Wrongful Conviction Act, along with other important legislative actions laid out in the .

“To promote public safety, we have to create a meaningful way by which those who are arrested, falsely accused, and plead guilty are able to challenge those wrongful convictions.” – Bruce Bryan, Queens Defenders Client Advocate.

Learn more about the Justice Roadmap and how you can contact your local legislators to support these important legislative priorities at www.queensdefenders.org/justice-roadmap-2024-launch

True community safety comes from investments in our communities, not policing and incarceration. Join Queens Defenders along with 120+ orgs and legislators TODAY at 10AM for the 2024 virtual launch!

There’s a path to free NY from mass incarceration, detention and deportation: bit.ly/justice-2024