NYC Public Defenders Call on NYC Dept. of Probation to Extend the Special Pre-Sentencing Arrangements Afforded to Trump to All New Yorkers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NYC Public Defenders Call on NYC Dept. of Probation to Extend the Special Pre-Sentencing Arrangements Afforded to Trump to All New Yorkers  

(NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, The Bronx Defenders, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem issued the following statement in response to reports that former President Donald Trump is scheduled for a pre-sentencing interview on Monday that includes special arrangements – including a virtual interview and his attorney being allowed to attend the interview – that are not typically afforded to low-income defendants: 

“All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires. This is just another example of our two-tiered system of justice.

“Pre-sentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings. The option of joining these interviews virtually is typically not extended to the people we represent either. 

“To ensure integrity and fairness, we call on the NYC Department of Probation to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, status, or class, receive the same pre-sentencing opportunities.” 

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