New York County Defender Services

With the holidays fast approaching, families across New York are rushing to get packages to loved ones on Rikers Island — gifts of new winter clothes, books and art supplies. But public defenders say a troubling number of even the most benign deliveries will get caught up in the jail's mail system and never arrive.

My name is Stan Germán and I am the current President of the Chief Defenders Association of New York and the Executive Director of the New York County Defender Services (“NYCDS”). NYCDS is a public defender office based in Manhattan that serves more than 10,000 clients in criminal cases every year and over half a million people since we opened our doors over 25 years ago.

(NEW YORK, NY) - On World Mental Health Day, Friday, October 10, 2025, state elected officials, people directly impacted by the criminal legal system, public defenders, and community advocates gathered outside the NYS Senate Offices for a press conference prior to testifying before the New York Senate in support of the Treatment Court Expansion Act (TCEA) (S.4547/A.4869).

“As the city’s public defenders, we are horrified that people arrested are at risk of dying in our city precincts and the central booking spaces in our courthouses,” they wrote. “We voice our collective demand that New York City take concrete steps to address the crisis of deaths taking place in police custody, including when individuals are arrested and awaiting arraignment.”

Elected officials and advocates join families of detainees who died while being held by law enforcement. They say the authorities did not provide the medical resources needed despite pleas from the detainees and their lawyers.