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 continues the fight to release incarcerated New Yorkers during COVID-19 pandemic

NYT The Daily Podcast: Getting Off Rikers Island
MSNBC: The Rachael Maddow Show
USA Today: Coronavirus: Prison inmates sue New York for early release over COVID-19 fears
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Criminal justice advocates call on Cuomo to do more to protect prisoners
Time: Campaigns, Fundraisers Work To Bail New York City Inmates Amid COVID-19 Outbreaks
NY Post: Dozens of NYC inmates back in jail after coronavirus release
Dissent Magazine: The Pandemic Inside the Only Women’s Maximum-Security Prison in New York
NYDN: NYC Corrections Dept gives FDNY 30K masks despite inadequate supplies in jails
The Intercept: Inside Rikers: An Account of the Virus-Stricken Jail 
Law 360: Paging State, Court Nixes Bid To Free Alleged Parole Violators
NY Daily News: NYS Parole Board faces backlog of up to 400 cases due to coronavirus
VOX: Why US jails and prisons became coronavirus epicenters
ABC News: ACLU study projects coronavirus deaths double US government estimates
NYLJ: Advocates Urge Cuomo to Step Up COVID-19 Testing for NY Prisoners in Wake of New Data

LAS pushes for tenant protections during COVID-19 pandemic

The Appeal: New York Lawmakers Push for Real Rent Relief Amid COVID-19 Outbreak 
QNS: Assemblyman calls for $10 billion in funding for emergency housing and rental assistance
Curbed: NYC renters could stave off eviction for up to a year under new Council bill
Curbed: Is it okay to move in NYC during the coronavirus pandemic?
NY1 Noticias: Abogados aseguran que inquilinos tienen derechos; que no los pueden desalojar
Gay City News: Advice for Mortgage Holders Falling Behind

More LAS in the news

NYDN: The NYPD needs more than just PPE
NY Daily News: Medical professionals, reform advocates ask NYPD to cool it with arrests
NY Daily News: Excellent review of CARES Act benefit eligibility
The New Republic: A Brief Criminal History of the Mask
The Hill: Civil rights-era laws against masks clash with federal coronavirus recommendations
NY1 Noticias: Cerraron el res­tau­rante donde trabajaba y luego lo sacaron de donde vivía