Author Archives: kflaherty57c745acc0

Managing Attorney – Newburgh, NY

Managing Attorney – Newburgh NY Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLS) is seeking to hire a Managing Attorney for our Newburgh, New York regional office.   Overview PLS is a non-profit legal services organization providing civil legal services to indigent individuals in New York State correctional facilities in cases where no other counsel isContinue reading “Managing Attorney – Newburgh, NY”

Managing Attorney, Disciplinary Representation Unit – Albany, NY

Managing Attorney, Disciplinary Representation Unit – Albany, New York Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLS) is seeking to hire a Managing Attorney to work from its Albany office to oversee PLS’s Disciplinary Representation Unit (DRU). The Managing Attorney will establish and oversee a team to provide effective representation to individuals facing prison disciplinary sanctionsContinue reading “Managing Attorney, Disciplinary Representation Unit – Albany, NY”

Executive Director – Albany, NY

Executive Director – Albany, New York About UsPrisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLS) is a mission driven nonprofit providing high-quality civil legal services to indigent individuals in New York State correctional facilities in cases where no other counsel is available. Founded in 1976 in response to the Attica uprising, PLS engages in civil rightsContinue reading “Executive Director – Albany, NY”

Federal litigation concerning proximity to minor child and disability concerns survives motion to dismiss

Federal litigation addressing proximity to minor child and disability concerns survives motion to dismiss Judge D’Agostino of the Northern District of NY issued a decision denying, in part, DOCCS’ motion to dismiss litigation concerning the intersection between disability and proximity to minor child placement (PMC). The Plaintiff in this case was approved for a PMC transfer,Continue reading “Federal litigation concerning proximity to minor child and disability concerns survives motion to dismiss”

Settlement in PLS Shock Incarceration Program ADA/ Rehab Act litigation

ADA & Rehab Act Challenge to Shock Incarceration Program Policy Settlement On February 11, 2026, the court granted preliminary approval to the class settlement in Raymond v. DOCCS. PLS has been litigating this case since November 2020. It concerns administration of the Shock Incarceration Program. Previously, DOCCS routinely screened individuals out of the program basedContinue reading “Settlement in PLS Shock Incarceration Program ADA/ Rehab Act litigation”

Gabriella Phillips – Immigration Staff Attorney

Gabriella Phillips Staff Attorney, Upstate Immigration Court Project 716-844-8266 gphillips@plsny.org Gabriella (“Bella”) was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. She graduated from John Caroll University in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology. Before law school, Bella was a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corp, serving as a refugee resettlement intern in Philadelphia, PA. In MayContinue reading “Gabriella Phillips – Immigration Staff Attorney”

Immigration Habeas Win

Immigration Habeas Corpus Win In partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, the National Immigration Project, and Singleton Schrieber LLP, PLS secured release from immigration detention for a 20-year-old youth from upstate New York. The habeas petitioner had been granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status in 2022, yet was arrested by immigration after the fact.Continue reading “Immigration Habeas Win”

First Amendment Protections for Immigrants Detained in Buffalo ICE Detention Facility

First Amendment Protections Settlement for Immigrants Detained in Buffalo ICE Detention Facility In 2025, PLS, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, and Covington & Burling LLC filed PLS v. DHS, 1:25-cv-00787-LJV (W.D.N.Y. 2025) to challenge ICE policies that impeded confidential communications between immigrant detainees in the BuffaloContinue reading “First Amendment Protections for Immigrants Detained in Buffalo ICE Detention Facility”