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Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

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Agency Testimony

Judge Zayas on public defender cooperation and city funding for services

New York City Council · Jun 25, 2026 · starts 0:20:13 · 40 sec

Zayas encourages public defenders to support case processing initiatives and calls on the city to adequately fund programs and services for problem-solving court referrals, emphasizing expansion requires corresponding service provider capacity.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

I also want to encourage the public defender organizations to give fair consideration to case processing initiatives when we propose them.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

Obviously, we need their cooperation as well to make progress in this area.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

Finally, the city can help too.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

by, among other things, adequately funding the programs and services to which our problem-solving courts refer defendants.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

We are committed to continuing to expand these courts, but that expansion will only be impactful if there is a

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

corresponding increase in service provider capacity.