New York County Defender Services

Ms. Fiorenzo and Ms. Sznajderman explain how the high rates of self-harm incidents and suicides within New York City jails demand that we upend our city's reliance on jails and prisons to serve as mental healthcare providers.

NYCDS Corrections Specialists Natalie Fiorenzo and Rachel Sznajderman testified on the importance of addressing the root causes of violence among young adults in New York City jails.

Thanks to long-overdue bail reform, more than 180,000 people have been spared the trauma of incarceration, while maintaining public safety.

Mr. Youngblood was a father who struggled with homelessness and his death is a tragedy. In our prior representation of him, we found him to be a kind and well-intentioned man.

NYCDS and Winston & Strawn LLP announce the filing of an emergency Article 78 petition in New York Supreme Court calling for immediate judicial intervention in the uncontained COVID-19 outbreak spiraling out of control at Rikers Island.