The Bronx Defenders is a public defender nonprofit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the justice system and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself.

Every client who comes to The Bronx Defenders is connected to an interdisciplinary team of advocates, including criminal defense attorneys, family defense attorneys, civil attorneys, immigration attorneys, social workers, civil legal advocates, parent advocates, benefits specialists, investigators, and community organizers. Each of these teams fosters interdisciplinary skill sets, ensures compassionate and comprehensive representation, and supports a culture of innovative, zealous, and holistic advocacy.

Each year, The Bronx Defenders assists nearly 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, and immigration cases, and they reach thousands more through their community intake and outreach programs. But they don’t stop there. They take what they learn and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change for the communities they serve.

An arrest and criminal charge alone can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. In New York State, more than 1 in 3 people arrested are never convicted of any crime or offense, yet they suffer dramatic consequences as a result of their arrest alone. This collateral damage, and the instability that results, can be far more devastating than any of the direct penalties that accompany the criminal conviction.