We Zealously Defend the Accused
Being accused of a crime, handcuffed, and thrown into the turmoil of the criminal justice system can be one of the most terrifying and disempowering experience of a person’s life. People who are arrested are isolated from their families and friends, confused about their rights and the process, and treated like criminals before they have even been convicted of a crime.
At the Bronx Defenders, our interdisciplinary teams of advocates support our clients and their families by helping them make sense of the system and their options. We spend time getting to know them and gain a deeper understanding of their lives and needs. Armed with that understanding, we pursue justice for our clients by thoroughly investigating their cases, raising novel legal arguments, and using creative tools of persuasion to succeed at trial. Because each client is unique, we advocate for individualized and comprehensive alternatives to incarceration rather than rely on a “one size fits all” solution to complex problems. Moreover, our support and advocacy is not confined to the courtroom and does not end with the criminal case. Providing seamless services that address all of the client’s needs, not just their legal ones is at the core of holistic defense and redefines what it means to be a public defender.
And our approach works. Our lawyers win dismissals and acquittals almost twice as often as other providers practicing before the same Bronx courts. Three-quarters of our clients who are convicted of crimes are sentenced to non-incarceratory programs and Bronx Defenders’ clients serve, on average, twenty percent less jail time. Client satisfaction surveys show that over 90 percent of our clients are happy with the representation they receive from The Bronx Defenders. Through zealous, innovative, and compassionate advocacy, our clients get the services they need and the justice they deserve.