Pro bono attorneys represent inmates who initially were sentenced to an indeterminate life term in prison for A-I and A-II felonies under the harshly punitive Rockefeller drug laws, and now have the opportunity to apply for re sentencing under current law. Pro bono representation ensures that inmates eligible to apply for long-awaited relief from the Rockefeller laws receive competent, vigorous advocacy.
Volunteer attorneys help to combat delayed justice by serving as pro bono co counsel with Legal Aid on criminal appeals. Volunteer counsel handles all stages of the appeal: reviewing the record, working with the client, writing the brief, and arguing the case in the Appellate Division.
The Legal Aid Society partners with law firms to assist with the representation of former inmates either who have been re-incarcerated for failure to comply with non-judicially imposed Post Release Supervision (PRS) or who unnecessarily are serving such a period. Although the Second Circuit in Earley v. Murray held that PRS is a nullity unless imposed by the sentencing judge, numerous former inmates have been arrested and thrown back in jail for violating the terms of administratively imposed PRS and an even greater number needlessly report and are at risk of possible violation and re-incarceration.