Queens Defenders

Today is World Day Against the Death Penalty. Queens Defenders stands with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty in emphasizing that this inhumane practice protects no one, fails to deter crime, perpetuates cycles of violence, and targets the most vulnerable in our society. Let’s use this day to raise our voices and demand an end to this inhumane practice. Join the movement to abolish the death penalty worldwide at worldcoalition.org. #NoDealthPenalty

"Queens Defenders is united with the entire defense community in supporting Justyna Rzewinski and commends her bravery for delivering today's testimony and standing up for all of the people in custody at Rikers." Queens Defenders Attorney in Charge of Law Reform and Policy, Gina Mitchell, and Juvenile Justice Issues Policy Manager, Katja Bignall-Daly, attended today's Board of Corrections hearing in support of Justyna Rzewinski's testimony describing the inhumane treatment of individuals with mental illness at Rikers Island.

NY Daily News: Former Rikers Island Social Worker Justyna Rzewinski describes how NYC correction officers routinely lock severely mentally ill men in their cells on Rikers Island for weeks and even months in violation of city regulations. "The practice – known in DOC slang as “deadlocking” – in jail mental health units causes the detainees to decompensate – or lose their ability to function... Medical staff are prevented from giving medication to stabilize their conditions, triggering behavior like relentless screaming, banging on cell doors and smearing their cells with their own feces." Today, Ms. Rzewinski testified before the Board of Correction, making her one of only a few jail medical staffers to go public about conditions inside. https://loom.ly/l4DU6oY

HAPPENING NOW: Rikers Island whistleblower Justyna Rzewinski is testifying in front of the NYC Board of Corrections on the abhorrent treatment of mentally ill people housed at Rikers Island. You can watch her testimony at the 41:00 min mark at: : https://loom.ly/4G2u9Mc

Queens Defenders is hiring for our dedicated and growing team representing individuals facing eviction in Queens Housing Court. Experienced and passionate individuals are encouraged to apply! Learn more and apply today at https://lnkd.in/eFKHuS9X

A new report found that missed medical appointments and delays in care are a common occurrence at New York City's Rikers Island—despite a legal requirement that incarcerated people are seen by a medical professional within a day of a request. Only 39 percent of people were seen within the required timeframe, with a third of requests left unfulfilled entirely. As the number of medical requests at Rikers surges, NYC Department of Correction must ensure that incarcerated people receive needed medical care. https://lnkd.in/ebiyKZ7M

Join Jails Action Coalition NYC and HALTsolitary tomorrow September 10th at 12pm at Foley Square to honor the tragic deaths of Charizma Jones and Anthony Jordan – two people who died this summer while in DOC custody at Rikers Island.

“Despite training and proper policies, there are still too many…stops, frisks, and searches in violation of the law.” The Queens Daily Eagle reports that according to the monitor appointed to track the NYPD’s compliance with a 2013 court order regarding its stop-and-frisk policies, the number of unconstitutional stops increased in 2022 and 2023. The monitor also found that during that same time frame, the number of underreported stops increased. "Even as the number of illegal stops rose, high-ranking police officers did little to stem their rise and, in many cases, approved the allegedly unconstitutional interactions with New Yorkers." https://loom.ly/kboHi1U

We welcome Mayor Adams’ announcement of his commitment to close Rikers Island by the 2027 deadline and reinvest tens of millions of dollars back into communities whose members are disproportionally detained at the facility. We look forward to the day when the City of New York directs funding to effective alternative-to-incarceration programs and removes barriers to accessing to these services for the clients we represent. https://loom.ly/Kerh69Q

Join Queens Defenders Client Advocate Bruce Bryan at the Beautiful HEART Ministries’ Mental Health is Mental Wealth Summit on September 6th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at John Jay College. The event will shed light on crucial mental health issues, including Post-Prison Stress Disorder (PPSD), trauma experienced by children of incarcerated parents, and the broader mental health challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals. Register at https://loom.ly/TXA-TWI