2016 was an exciting year—our staff achieved countless victories on behalf of our clients and all New Yorkers. These victories included preserving the right to affordable housing, removing barriers on necessary healthcare for transgender individuals, and exonerating clients wrongly accused of crimes decades ago.

Legal Aid Society staff also pushed for continued reforms at Rikers Island regarding staff brutality, launched a bail reform initiative, sued the NYPD to safeguard the rights of bystanders recording police activity, and filed a federal lawsuit to prevent sexual abuse of female prisoners by guards.