The Bronx Defenders

Founded in 1997 by a team of eight advocates, including its former executive director Robin Steinberg, David Feige and criminal defense attorney Daniel Arshack, the Bronx Defenders is responsible for developing holistic defense, an interdisciplinary model of criminal defense lawyering. The Bronx Defenders is also host to The Bronx Freedom Fund, the first charitable bail organization in New York State. In late 2023, Justine Olderman stepped down from her position as executive director. She held the post for six years, and was the second ever in the position, being appointed by founder Robin Steinberg. Wesley Caines served as interim executive director. In June 2024, the Board of Directors announced the appointment of Juval O. Scott, a nationally recognized leader in public defense, civil rights, and sentencing reform, as the next executive director of The Bronx Defenders. Juval is the first African American and woman of color to lead the organization in its 27-year history. Her tenure began in September 2025. ==Contract==

The Bronx Defenders are a contracted public defender for New York City, along with the Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services in Manhattan, Brooklyn Defender Services in Brooklyn, Queens Law Associates in Queens, and the Neighborhood Defender Service in northern Manhattan. ==Recognition==

In recent years, the Bronx Defenders has received national attention and praise for its work providing holistic defense to indigent residents of the Bronx, including the National Legal Aid & Defender Association’s Clara Shortridge Foltz Award. As of early 2016, the office had 250 employees working in it. ==See also==