APPELLATE ADVOCATES

Provides legal advocacy for individuals affected by the Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA), which imposes 1,000-foot residential restrictions around schools, often resulting in homelessness or continued incarceration due to lack of compliant housing in New York City. Conducts targeted litigation and client education to challenge the unlawful impacts of SARA on individuals with sex offense convictions.

Represents individuals in petitions for downward modification of SORA risk levels based on demonstrated rehabilitation and has won over 100 SORA cases at both hearing and appellate levels.

Obtains exonerations for clients through post-conviction litigation, including collaboration with conviction review units. The organization has secured the exoneration of 5 clients.

Operates a summer internship program for law students who have completed their first or second year of law school, offering opportunities to draft legal documents, conduct legal research, participate in post-conviction investigations, attend oral arguments, and support office functions in areas including SORA cases, post-conviction immigration relief, and direct appeals.

Provides law students with supervised opportunities to represent indigent individuals in criminal appeals through fieldwork and weekly seminars focused on appellate record review, legal issue assessment, and appellate brief writing.

Provides legal representation to vacate criminal convictions for survivors of human trafficking in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

Identifies eligible domestic violence survivor clients and files for resentencing under the DVSJA, both proactively and when assigned by the court. Provides trauma-informed legal representation supported by social work and re-entry teams, resulting in reduced prison sentences and elimination of lifetime parole or post-release supervision for successful applicants.

Advocates for statutory and policy reform of the Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) through amicus briefs, policy proposals, and community outreach in collaboration with legal and community organizations.

Provides high-quality appellate defense representation to individuals convicted of crimes in New York State who cannot afford private lawyers, reviewing convictions for legal errors and challenging improper actions by criminal justice actors. The organization has won over 1,100 direct appeals in the Appellate Division and more than 70 cases in the New York Court of Appeals.

Provides trauma-informed supportive counseling to clients in the community and those currently incarcerated through licensed social workers and social work interns. Delivers comprehensive mitigation reports, social work evaluations, and mental health assessments to support post-conviction legal representation.

Conducts criminal-immigration analysis in every case to assess risks of deportation, inadmissibility, or denial of naturalization for non-citizen clients. Pursues direct appeals and additional legal relief, such as C.P.L. § 440 motions, to minimize negative immigration consequences.

Operates a Re-entry Program that provides direct services including help with securing personal documents, applying for public benefits, resume and cover letter preparation, job searches, one-on-one peer counseling, supportive housing applications, child support arrears navigation, family reunification support, and distribution of new and gently used clothing. Also provides indirect support through referrals to internal and external service providers.

Hosts two to three social work interns annually as a certified Seminar in Field Instruction placement, providing hands-on experience in trauma-informed care and re-entry support services.