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 communitiess 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.

NYPD settlements cost New Yorkers over $200M

NYT: New York Pays $206 Million to Settle Misconduct Suits, the Most Since 2018
NYDN: NYPD, prosecutorial misconduct payouts skyrocket to $206M in 2024
Gothamist: NYC paid $200 million to settle police misconduct lawsuits in 2024, report says
WNYC: Legal Questions Over ICE at Rikers, and NYPD Misconduct Settlements Rise
Hoodline: NYC Settlements for Police Misconduct Soar to $206 Million
Queens Daily Eagle: Misconduct settlements topped $205 mil last year

More LAS in the news

NYDN: NYC move to reopen ICE office on Rikers Island stirs passion on both sides
Gothamist: Mayor Adams wants immigration officers back on Rikers. Can he do that?
City & State: ‘Shredding of the American Dream’: Immigrants fear ICE raids at schools
AMNY: The right to know: Groups offer guidance to undocumented immigrants amid ICE raids
Politico: Ahead of Council hearing, NYPD releases trove of info on surveillance tech
The City: Hochul Activates the National Guard as Prison Strike Escalates
Jackson Heights Post: Advocates push for SNAP fraud protections, EBT chip cards
NYT: N.Y. Prisons Loosen Solitary Confinement Rules as Wildcat Strikes Spread
Chalkbeat: Mold, dust, a severe allergy: Guidance counselor sues schools for refusing transfer
Queens Daily Eagle: Debate over discovery continues in Albany
The City: Upstate Prison Staffers Charged in Beating Death of Robert Brooks
NYT: 6 Corrections Officers Charged With Murder in New York Inmate’s Death
Queens Daily Eagle: Man held on Rikers for 19 months becomes first to die in jails in 2025
Filter: Another Death in NYC Jail, as Mayor Adams Plans to Send in ICE