The Legal Aid Society and the New York City Council were in court on January 20 fighting the City's new policy to begin to deny shelter from the elements for homeless women and men. Steven Banks, Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society, told New York 1 that "it is unfortunate that it required a court proceeding to keep the City from implementing a new policy to turn away women and men seeking shelter."
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In a decision issued on January 19, Federal Judge Paul A. Crotty of the Southern District of New York condemned the use of force and restraints on children in State Office of Children and Family Services facilities, but he did not issue a preliminary injunction "The problem at Office of Children and Family Services facilities is not the policy on use of force and physical restraints, but the practices utilized by the staff that are not consistent with the policy," Judge Crotty wrote in G.B. v. Carrion, 09 Civ. 10582. The lawsuit was filed against the State OCFS by The Legal Aid Society and the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
Under an initiative proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in his 2012-2013 State budget, youth from New York City would no longer be placed in upstate state-run non-secure and limited-secure facilities, but would be closer to home in City agencies where they would receive services and be able to see family members on a regular basis.
If you fit into either of these categories, you may be a member of the certified plaintiff class in a lawsuit, which was filed on October 17, 2011 against the New York City Administration for Children's Services ("ACS") and the Commissioner of ACS, concerning your right to receive help in finding appropriate and adequate housing and to receive other help from ACS until your 21st birthday (even if you have left foster care). The notice (in a PDF file below in English and in Spanish) describes the case and the proposed Settlement that may be approved by the court. If approved, this Settlement will affect the rights of all members of the class.
On Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo submitted the Judiciary's proposed budget for the April 1, 2012-March 31, 2013 State fiscal year to the Legislature with a statement of support. The Chief Judge's proposed budget includes funding to continue to implement Criminal Defense case caps, to maintain the Legal Aid Juvenile Rights Practice's legal assistance for children, and to increase the Statewide civil legal services allocation from $12.5 million to $25 million.
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