Mission Statement
The New York State Defenders Association has the following purposes:
(a) to promote an interchange of ideas and experiences concerning the criminal defense of persons throughout the State of New York who are unable to afford counsel; (b) to provide adequate information to the public relative to the criminal defense of persons unable to afford counsel, and engage in a statewide program of community legal education developed in conjunction with individuals and community organizations; (c) to coordinate, upgrade, make uniform, and thus, improve the quality of the delivery of legal services to persons in the State of New York unable to afford counsel;
(d) to establish standards for personnel and practices in the field of criminal defense for persons unable to afford counsel and create a viable organization to advocate on their behalf; (e) to foster sound legislation in the field of criminal defense for those persons unable to afford counsel and promote adequate services and facilities in this field;
(f) to stimulate public support for an adequate system of criminal defense representation and promote measures for the protection of persons unable to afford such representation; (g) to cooperate with public and private criminal justice agencies, the judiciary, the bar, and all other organizations interested in the administration of justice;
(h) to publish periodicals to promote the purposes and objectives of the corporation; i) to conduct training and continuing legal education programs; and
(j) to, in general, do what may be required to give effect to and carry forward the purposes of the corporation without discriminating because of race, national origin, religious belief, age, or sex.
Description
The New York State Defenders Association is the largest criminal defense bar association in New York and a state-funded not-for-profit legal resource backup center for public defenders, legal aid lawyers and assigned counsel. In its role as a backup center, NYSDA provides training, publications, research, and consultation to attorneys throughout New York.
