At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:

Need for Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act affirmed by NYPD report

Politico: Legal Aid Society says NYPD data shows need for marijuana legalization
Patch: Cops Arrest 260 People Of Color For Weed, Only 20 White: NYPD
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: As marijuana busts fall citywide, people of color are still arrested most
AMNY: Despite fewer arrests, people of color still disproportionally arrested for marijuana: Cops
The Fresh Toast: New York Cops Still Target People Of Color For Marijuana Busts

LAS secures destruction of illegal NYPD juvenile fingerprint database

Find Biometrics: NYPD Deletes Illegal Database of Juvenile Fingerprints
The Crime Report: NYPD Caught Red-Handed With Juvenile Fingerprint Files
JJIE: NYPD Fingerprint Database Just Part of ‘Big Data’ That Needs Oversight, Reformers Say

NYCHA outages continue

Gothamist: Nearly 23,000 NYCHA Tenants Without Heat, Hot Water Last Week
6SQft: Weeks before winter begins, NYCHA residents have been without heat or hot water
Gothamist: More Than 10,000 NYCHA Tenants Go Without Heat, Hot Water

More LAS in the news

NYT: Accused of a Crime, and Falling Into the ‘Technology Gap’
Gothamist: Queens DA Will Release Secret Records On NYPD Officer Dishonesty
Queens Daily Eagle: There’s a 24-hour bail kiosk in Queens — if you can find it
Chief Leader: Correction Bd., Others Upbraid DOC Reply to Federal Monitor’s Report
Gothamist: NYC’s Most Sued Cop Is Really On A Roll
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Overturning a man’s murder conviction could come down to his haircut
Black Star Atlanta: New Video Highlights Unfortunate Pattern of Stop and Frisks by NYPD
Politico: Legal Aid refiles Medicaid dental suit, petitions state for dentures for cancer survivor