The Bronx Defenders

“The 990 form is reviewed and adopted by the audit committee of the board of directors in a meeting of the audit committee and then the entire board of directors is provided a copy of the 990 form prior to its filing with the irs.”

“Officers, directors and key employees are required to annually complete a conflict on interest form on which they list any potential conflicts. If a conflict were to arise, the officer, director or key employee will disclose the potential conflict and recuse themself from partaking in any deliberations or voting on the matter in conflict.”

“THE BOARD REQUESTS AND IS FURNISHED WITH A REVIEW OF THE COMPETITIVE RATES OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SIMILIARLY SITUATED NOT-FOR-PROFIT, LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR. ITS DECISIONS ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPENSATION ARE BASED ON THAT REVIEW, WHICH IS BASED ON INDEPENDENTLY AGGREGATED INFORMATION FROM SOURCES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GUIDESTAR. THE PROCESS WAS LAST CONDUCTED IN June 2016.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available upon request.”

“Our holistic model brings lawyers, social workers, community organizers and other advocates together under one roof. We provide clients with one place where they can go for help with any issue, whether it is a case in a courtroom, a problem with a landlord, immigration, or a long-standing mental illness. Our professional, experienced, and compassionate team addresses the root cause of each clients involvement with the justice system, guiding some of the poorest New Yorkers through times of crisis and onto a pathway of growth and opportunity.”

“Our civil attorneys work directly with other advocates in our office to provide holistic, intergrated representation to our clients and their families and to find comprehensive solutions to the obstacles they face. Together, they work to preserve clients' hard-earned jobs, maintain stable housing and public benefits, correct rap sheet errors, and keep clients in the country with their families. But most of all, our civil action practice helps our clients fight their way out of the vicious cycle of poverty to improve their lives. In 2016, we served more than 4,000 individuals.”

“POLICY, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMMENSE NEEDS IN THE BRONX COMMUNITY, THE BRONX DEFENDERS OFFERS A RANGE OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS TARGETED AT ADDRESSING BOTH EMERGING AND CHRONIC NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. OUR WORK LOOKS BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL STRUGGLE TO CHALLENGE RACIAL DISPARITY, LACK OF ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AND LEGAL BARRIERS TO SUCCESS AFTER COURT INVOLVEMENT. OUR COMMUNITY WORK HAS RESULTED IN A STRONG PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM INTENT ON PROMOTING SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR CLIENTS' LIVES. THE PROJECTS INCLUDE: THE BRONX DEFENDERS ORGANIZING PROJECT: OUR STAFF BUILDS LEADERSHIP AMONG CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMIC REFORMS IN CHILD WLEFARE, IMMIGRATION, POLICING, PRE-TRIAL JUSTICE, SENTENCING, AND REENTRY. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT: THE BRONX DEFENDERS HAS DEVELOPED A RANGE OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH THE YEARS TO ENSURE THAT ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION. WE PROVIDE ADVOCATE TAINING AND SUPPORT STATEWIDE ON THE PROVEN STATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS. REENTRY NET: A STATEWIDE PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEYS AND THE COMMUNITY ON PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING PERVASIVE LEGAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM POVERTY AND CRIME (WWW.REENTRY.NET/NY) DEFENDERS ACADEMY: A UNIQUE TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE PROVIDERS AND PRIVATE ATTORNEYS THAT TEACHES TRIAL SKILLES WITH A FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE BY ADDING ACTORS, STORYTELLERS AND VOICE COACHES TO OUR FACULTY OF EXPERIENCED TRIAL LAWYERS. LEVERAGING OUR HOLISTIC DEFENSE MODEL, DEFENDERS ACADEMY TEACHES CRIMINAL, CIVIL AND FAMILY ATTORNEYS TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE A RANGE OF CLIENT ISSUES TO JURIES AND JUDGES. COMMUNITY LEGAL INFORMATION: WHEN WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN 1997 WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE BRONX COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LAWYERS AND ADVOCATES. PART OF THAT COMMITMENT MEANS THAT EVERY WEEKDAY DURING BUSINESS HOURS, ANYONE CAN WALK INTO OUR OFFICE AND MEET WITH A COMMUNITY INTAKE ADVOCATE. THROUGH COMMUNITY INTAKE, WE PROVIDE GENERAL LEGAL INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING THE COURT SYSTEM, AND HIGH QUALITY REFERRALS TO OVER 1,400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS EACH YEAR. Immigration Practice: The Immigration Practice advises non-citizen clients on the immigration consequences of criminal cases and represents clients in immigration court, fighting for outcomes that avoid or mitigate the devastating effects criminal convictions have on residents' ability to remain in the country with their families. Immigration attorneys also assess clients eligibility for affirmative applications and represent them in applying for citizenship, green card renewals, and adjustment of status. In addition, the Immigration Practice is a key partner in the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, providing removal defense to hundreds of clients each year. Impact Litigation: The Impact Litigation Practice works to identify, develop, and litigate challenges to systemic violations and injustices that affect larger groups of our clients, including racially-discriminatory policing, unequal access to housing and employment, government seizure of property, curtailment of parental rights in family court proceedings, immigration abuses, and other government misconduct. Our success in these complex cases is influenced by our community engagement efforts and our client base; we leverage the knowledge we gain from direct representation into critical policy changes that benefit the communities we serve in the South Bronx.”