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:

Crisis on Rikers: LAS demand actions, files suits, praises passage of Less is More

NY1: Sources: Hochul to sign ‘Less is More’ jails reform act into law
Politico: Legal Aid sues for Rikers records amid worsening crisis at city jail complex
Norwood News: De Blasio Signs “Rikers Relief Plan” in Response to “Inhumane” Jail System
Newsday: NYC’s Rikers Island jail spirals into chaos amid pandemic
NYT: The Endless Catastrophe of Rikers Island
Politico: De Blasio rebuffs calls to release Rikers inmates amid jail crisis
NYT: With Rikers in Crisis, Critics Wonder: Where Is Bill de Blasio?
NBC4: De Blasio Announces Plans To Address Staffing Crisis, Inmate Deaths on Rikers Island
Patch: Justice Delayed: City Jail Staff Shortage Keeps Detainees From Getting To Court
El Diario: Alcalde anuncia plan de emergencia para aliviar condiciones ‘infernales’ en cárcel Rikers
AMNY: Emergency plan aims to help inmates, NYC ‘get the hell’ off Rikers Island: de Blasio
NY1: Mayor announces emergency relief plan for Rikers Island
The City: Justice Delayed: City Jail Staff Shortage Keeps Detainees From Getting to Court
Queens Daily Eagle: Mayor shares emergency plan to end Rikers chaos
Reuters: New York mayor defends efforts ‘to fix’ Rikers as lawmakers demand immediate shutdown
NYDN: Lawmakers can tour troubled Rikers Island, as city changes course on plan to delay visit
NYDN: De Blasio administration is trying to block tour of Rikers Island by state legislators
City Limits: As Conditions at Rikers Reach Crisis Levels, Concerns About Heat Persist

More LAS in the news

Queens Daily Eagle: Top court hears testimony in support of legal service funding
Norwood News: New York State Eviction Moratorium Extension Follows Bronx Rally
The City: NYPD Gang Database Targeted By City Council Member
NYDN: Federal judge dismisses landlord lawsuits seeking to overturn New York’s 2019 rent laws
Reuters: N.Y. state bar forms task force to fight racism, social inequity
The Real Deal: Two more rent law challenges tossed, landlords rest hopes on appeal