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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:
LAS secures release of vulnerable New Yorkers as COVID-19 continues to spread in city jails
NYLJ: Legal Aid Wins Release of 51 More Persons Held at Rikers Island Newsday: NY not yet moving to release short-time, vulnerable inmates THE CITY: Second Rikers Island Inmate Dies of COVID-19 After Failed Bid to Spring Him CNN: 51 additional people released from Rikers Island due to underlying health concern Politico: Judge orders the release of 51 people jailed in response to a lawsuit by LAS NY Post: NYC corrections department sues over poor coronavirus protocol in jails New Yorker: The Purgatory of Parole Incarcerations During the Coronavirus Crisis VICE: Inside Rikers During the Coronavirus Outbreak New York Magazine: Who ‘Deserves’ Jail During a Pandemic? El Diario: Exigen liberar 100 prisioneros de Rikers Island por alto riesgo de contraer COVID-19 The Nation: Freezing Jail Cells, Broken Showers, and Covid-19 AMNY: Second Rikers Island inmate dies of COVID-19 after failed bid to spring him NY Post: Second Rikers Island inmate dead from coronavirus after failed release Pix 11: Rikers inmate with COVID-19 dies while handcuffed to a bed Gay City News: Second Rikers Inmate Dies of COVID-19 After Failed Release Bid Telemundo: Preocupa Contagio de Coronavirus En Prisiones de NYC Gothamist: Prison Inmates Nearing Release Hope To Get Out Before They Get Sick NYLJ: Pleas Mounting for Release of Inmates at Risk of COVID-19 NY Daily News: Coronavirus updates in NYC and the world The New Republic: Pleading for Clemency in a Pandemic NY Daily News: Release denied for accused lookout in friendly-fire death of NYPD detective NY Daily News: Legal Aid, advocates call for more releases after second person in custody dies City Limits: New Calls for Action to Protect Inmates as Death Rate Inches Up NY Daily News: Release many more people from prison now, Gov. Cuomo Newsweek: U.S. Correctional Facilities Report Steep Rise in Coronavirus Infection Rate AP: Inmates Freed
LAS wins release of immigrant detainees during COVID-19 crisis
NY1 Noticias: ICE obligado a liberar 5 inmigrantes en riesgo de contraer Covid-19 Amsterdam News: Five medically vulnerable immigrants are released from ICE detention El Diario: Piden liberación de inmigrantes en cárceles de la ‘La Migra’ por brote de coronavirus Documented: Early Arrival: Undocumented Workers Feel Abandoned During Pandemic NY Daily News: N.J. judge orders release of 5 ICE detainees as coronavirus outbreak mounts in jails
More LAS in the news
QNS: Mayor calls for extension of eviction moratorium The Real Deal: Landlords see chance to advance eviction cases Time: Renters Are Being Forced From Their Homes Despite Eviction Moratoriums The Crime Report: NYC Accused of Unnecessary Arrests In Pandemic The Intercept: As Coronavirus Ravages NY, the NYPD is Detaining Kids for Selling Candy Gothamist: Cuomo Promises Google Will Fix Broken Unemployment Insurance System NYT: “It’s a Time Bomb” 23 Die as Virus Hits Packed Homeless Shelters Bronx: Bronx leaders launch comprehensive $10 million community relief effort THE CITY: Isolation Hotel Referrals Add to Strain of Overwhelmed Hospital ERs