New York County Defender Services

For nearly one year now, NYCDS and our sister public defender offices have sounded the alarm about security lapses and unacceptable conditions in counsel visit areas.1 Most of our focus has been on the chaotic and unsafe conditions at the ESH facilities at the Rose M. Singer Center (“RESH”).

This lawsuit comes after DOC unlawfully recorded thousands of privileged telephone conversations between people in DOC custody and their defense attorneys—and then disseminated those illicit recordings to prosecutors and law enforcement.

“New York County Defender Services is thrilled to see the inclusion of the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act, along with a $10 million appropriation for implementation, in the Senate One House budget"

In the Spring of 2023, Mayor Adams cut $17 million of DOC’s budget that essentially eliminated programming on Rikers Island. We have seen firsthand that any form of meaningful interaction or activity has been stripped from our clients, leaving them with truly nothing to do as they await their day in court.

“What Mayor Eric Adams seeks would result in local law enforcement being able to transfer New Yorkers merely suspected of a crime to ICE, upending local criminal court proceedings while perpetuating family separation and dividing communities."