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 secures release of vulnerable New Yorkers as COVID-19 continues to spread in city jails

NYLJ: Legal Aid Wins Release of 51 More Persons Held at Rikers Island
Newsday: NY not yet moving to release short-time, vulnerable inmates
THE CITY: Second Rikers Island Inmate Dies of COVID-19 After Failed Bid to Spring Him
CNN: 51 additional people released from Rikers Island due to underlying health concern
Politico: Judge orders the release of 51 people jailed in response to a lawsuit by LAS
NY Post: NYC corrections department sues over poor coronavirus protocol in jails
New Yorker: The Purgatory of Parole Incarcerations During the Coronavirus Crisis
VICE: Inside Rikers During the Coronavirus Outbreak
New York Magazine: Who ‘Deserves’ Jail During a Pandemic?
El Diario: Exigen liberar 100 prisioneros de Rikers Island por alto riesgo de contraer COVID-19
The Nation: Freezing Jail Cells, Broken Showers, and Covid-19
AMNY: Second Rikers Island inmate dies of COVID-19 after failed bid to spring him
NY Post: Second Rikers Island inmate dead from coronavirus after failed release
Pix 11: Rikers inmate with COVID-19 dies while handcuffed to a bed
Gay City News: Second Rikers Inmate Dies of COVID-19 After Failed Release Bid
Telemundo: Preocupa Contagio de Coronavirus En Prisiones de NYC
Gothamist: Prison Inmates Nearing Release Hope To Get Out Before They Get Sick
NYLJ: Pleas Mounting for Release of Inmates at Risk of COVID-19
NY Daily News: Coronavirus updates in NYC and the world
The New Republic: Pleading for Clemency in a Pandemic
NY Daily News: Release denied for accused lookout in friendly-fire death of NYPD detective
NY Daily News: Legal Aid, advocates call for more releases after second person in custody dies
City Limits: New Calls for Action to Protect Inmates as Death Rate Inches Up
NY Daily News: Release many more people from prison now, Gov. Cuomo
Newsweek: U.S. Correctional Facilities Report Steep Rise in Coronavirus Infection Rate
AP: Inmates Freed

LAS wins release of immigrant detainees during COVID-19 crisis 

NY1 Noticias: ICE obligado a liberar 5 inmigrantes en riesgo de contraer Covid-19
Amsterdam News: Five medically vulnerable immigrants are released from ICE detention
El Diario: Piden liberación de inmigrantes en cárceles de la ‘La Migra’ por brote de coronavirus
Documented: Early Arrival: Undocumented Workers Feel Abandoned During Pandemic
NY Daily News: N.J. judge orders release of 5 ICE detainees as coronavirus outbreak mounts in jails

More LAS in the news 

QNS: Mayor calls for extension of eviction moratorium
The Real Deal: Landlords see chance to advance eviction cases
Time: Renters Are Being Forced From Their Homes Despite Eviction Moratoriums
The Crime Report: NYC Accused of Unnecessary Arrests In Pandemic
The Intercept: As Coronavirus Ravages NY, the NYPD is Detaining Kids for Selling Candy 
Gothamist: Cuomo Promises Google Will Fix Broken Unemployment Insurance System
NYT: “It’s a Time Bomb” 23 Die as Virus Hits Packed Homeless Shelters
Bronx: Bronx leaders launch comprehensive $10 million community relief effort
THE CITY: Isolation Hotel Referrals Add to Strain of Overwhelmed Hospital ERs