named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Amicus Committee
Identifies and participates in key appellate cases by filing or joining amicus briefs on issues affecting indigent defense
Appellate Practice Committee
Coordinates policies and trainings for criminal appellate defense providers across New York State
Assigned Counsel Committee
Addresses challenges specific to 18-b assigned counsel programs, including low pay rates and recruitment, through legislative and legal strategies
Family Court Committee
Focuses on reforming family court practices, including early counsel appointment and addressing racial disparities in child welfare cases
Legislative Committee
Advocates for policy reform including bail, discovery, and parental representation; drafts legislative agendas and lobbies state officials
Staff Development & Training Committee
Organizes trainings for public defense staff on topics including trauma-informed practice, reentry, and JCOPE compliance
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 4 activities
- Advocacy for criminal justice reform and fair legal practicesAdvocates before legislative and executive branches for fairness and justice in New York’s criminal legal system, including bail reform, discovery practices, sentencing equity, and preservation of appellate rights. Organizes lobby days, issues policy memos, and submits testimony on legislation affecting indigent defense.
- Collaboration with state agencies to improve indigent defense systemsPartners with the Office of Indigent Legal Services to address systemic challenges and advocate for increased resources and support for defense providers.
- Public education on the role of defense counsel in the justice systemConducts initiatives to educate the public about the importance and function of defense counsel in ensuring a fair legal system.
- Research and analysis of legislative and policy impacts on defense servicesConducts analysis of proposed legislation and its effects on public defense providers and assigned counsel programs, informing advocacy positions and organizational responses.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Capacity building and professional development for public defense leadersStrengthens public defense organizations through trainings, CLE programs, onboarding for new chief defenders, and facilitation of professional networks. Topics include trauma-informed practice, diversity and inclusion, and lobbying compliance.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Direct service coordination and communication among public defendersConvenes regular meetings and calls for public defenders across New York State to share updates on court policies, funding, and trainings, including during emergency court shutdowns. Also produces and distributes a quarterly newsletter.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Filing amicus briefs in appellate cases to influence legal precedentFiles or joins amicus briefs in appellate courts to shape legal interpretations on issues including immigration consequences, discovery rights, appeal waivers, and constitutional protections. Notable cases include Thompson v. Clark, People v. Bradford Shanks, and Sophia v. Garland.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$50K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$35K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$85K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$85K
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue -11.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- ALICE FONTIER — DIRECTOR
- CLARE DEGNAN — DIRECTOR
- DARRYL BLOOM — DIRECTOR
- JR SANTANA CARTER — DIRECTOR
- JULIE CIANCA — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN DOUGHERTY — DIRECTOR
- NORMAN EFFMAN — DIRECTOR
- PIYALI BASAK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Assigned Counsel Association Partner — Engaged in discussions about supporting litigation efforts to address low hourly rates for 18-b attorneys.
- Bob Perry Partner — Employed to assist with lobbying efforts and contracted as a permanent staff member.
- Buffalo Law School Partner — Co-hosted a remote job fair for public defense positions.
- Buffalo Law School Partner — Co-hosted a remote job fair with CDANY to support recruitment in public defense.
- Chief Defenders from across New York State Network — Founding members and core constituents of the association representing chief defenders throughout New York State.
- Division of Criminal Justice Services Government — Cited as a source validating the success of bail reform legislation in New York.
- ILS Government — Worked with ILS on appellate defender policies and secured funding and support for parental representation.
- ILS Partner — Provided information on funding issues and changing laws during weekly chief meetings.
- Monroe County Public Defender's Office Partner — Co-chairs the CDANY Training Committee with Timothy Donaher
- NYSDA Partner — Collaborated on a guidance document for police reform collaboratives.
- NYSDA Partner — Provided information on funding issues and changing laws during weekly chief meetings.
- New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Partner — Collaborates with CDANY on legislative advocacy and joined in support of amicus actions.
- New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Partner — Joint statement issued with NYSACDL calling on Governor Cuomo to sign the Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act.
- New York State Bar Association Partner — Collaborates with CDANY on lobbying efforts and legislative advocacy, including 18-B rate increases.
- New York State Defenders Association Partner — Joint statement issued with NYSDA calling on Governor Cuomo to sign the Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act.
- New York State Defender’s Association Partner — Collaborates on advocacy planning, legislative priorities, and amicus briefs.
- OCA Government — Communicated with regarding defense positions on court reopening and justice court issues.
- Office of Court Administration Government — Cited as a source validating the success of bail reform legislation in New York.
- Office of Indigent Legal Services Partner — Collaborates to discuss issues facing defense providers and promote greater resources for defender organizations.
- Parents Legislative Action Network Partner — Partners with CDANY to develop short-term, mid-term, and long-term advocacy goals for family court reform.
- Providers of the Right to Counsel in New York State Network — Network of public defense office leaders united under CDANY to improve legal representation.
- State Bar’s Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction Partner — Coordinated on legislation and policies affecting indigent criminal appeals.
- The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Partner — Co-chairs the CDANY Training Committee with Matthew W. Knecht
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Leadership Unification and Best Practices Collaborationmethodology: best-practices collaborationBy uniting chief defenders and facilitating collaboration on best practices, the organization strengthens public defense systems and improves legal representation quality because shared learning and coordinated leadership enhance collective effectiveness and systemic reform capacity.
- Structural Reform Modeling for Systemic Changemethodology: structural-reform-modelingBy advocating for evidence-based structural reforms—such as transparent discovery, fair bail, and early counsel intervention—the organization addresses root causes of inequity because systemic changes in policy and practice produce more just outcomes than case-by-case interventions.
- Systemic Advocacy Through Relationship Buildingmethodology: relationship-based-advocacyBy building sustained relationships with advocates and partners, the organization amplifies its influence at the state level to advance structural reforms, because relationship-based coalitions increase political leverage and durability of policy change.