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.

LAS demands investigation into NYPD custody deaths, presents reform package

NYT: N.Y.C. Watchdog Agency Is Investigating Deaths in Police Custody
AMNY: NYPD watchdog investigates series of deaths as advocates demand more reform
The City: NYPD Under Probe for Deaths in Custody
Queens Daily Eagle: DOI to probe NYPD in-custody deaths
Hoodline: New York City Rocked by Spike in NYPD Custody Deaths
El Diario: Exigen a NYPD que aclare razones de muerte de personas bajo su custodia

LAS sues over violations of solitary confinement law on Rikers Island

NYT: Some Rikers Detainees Are Illegally Isolated, Lawsuit Says
Queens Daily Eagle: City sued for continued use of solitary confinement on Rikers
Law360: Rikers Detainees File Class Action Over Solitary Confinement
Amsterdam News: Advocates decry attempts to undercut state solitary confinement ban

Orville Etoria released from African jail, returned to Jamaica

NYT: Jamaican Citizen Deported to African Prison by U.S. Returns Home
AP: A Jamaican man deported by the US to Eswatini has been repatriated, authorities say
BBC: Eswatini says it has repatriated US deportee to Jamaica
Reuters: Eswatini says Jamaican man deported by US has been repatriated
NY1: Brooklyn resident released from prison after deportation to Eswatini, authorities say
The Gleaner: Jamaican man deported by US to Eswatini back home
Al Jazeera: Rights advocates accuse Eswatini of stalling case weighing US deportations

More LAS in the news

Times Union: After prison strike, committee seeks changes to solitary confinement rules
ABC News10: DOCCS proposes revisions to HALT Act solitary confinement rules
NYT: Should We Listen to the A.I. Doomsayers?
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: LAS condemns ongoing unlawful detention of Jamaican man in Eswatini
Corrections1: N.Y. prison panel urges rollback of HALT Act solitary limits
The City: Amtrak Police Arrests Surge at Penn Bathroom Cruising Spot
Gothamist: Cruising crackdown in Penn Station bathroom puts at least 20 men in ICE custody
Them: “Lewdness” Arrests Up at NYC Penn Station Bathrooms, Police Likely Using Sniffies
The Economist: It is getting much harder to get evicted in New York City