Steinberg '82 discusses work as a public defender at PILC series (VIDEO)

On January 26, Robin Steinberg '82, the founder and executive director of the Bronx Defenders, spoke at the Law School as part of the Public Interest Law Center's Leaders in Public Interest Series. Over the course of a lively and passionate half hour, Steinberg related personal experiences in representing underprivileged clients and stridently criticized the aggressive enforcement of so-called quality of life offenses like marijuana possession, turnstile jumping and graffiti writing. She believes that the prosecution of these crimes unfairly and disproportionately punishes poor and minority individuals. "When tolerance is being preached from church pulpits and White House press conferences," she asked, "how can it be that here in New York City we cling to a misguided criminal justice policy that targets the poor?"