Why the Brooklyn Courtroom Birth Was the Last Straw for Public Defenders

A woman, Samantha Randazzo, gave birth while handcuffed during open court shortly before midnight on May 15. She received neither privacy nor dignity and did not receive competent medical treatment. Public defenders said doctors are not present during court proceedings, and they have been seeking changes since last September. A 10-step plan from legal advocates called for independent EMS staffing in courtrooms to supplement correctional health staff, improve mental health and substance use services, conduct regular inspections of NYPD policy and central bookings buildings, and end custodial arrests for low-level crimes. Advocates cited multiple deaths from insufficiently treated medical issues in the 120 Schermerhorn courthouse since early 2025, all tied to minor charges.

"“This is not the first time that something like this has happened,” Olga Karounos, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society told me at the demonstration, which was organized by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys (UAW Local 2325). “Three people have died from insufficiently treated medical issues in the 120 Schermerhorn courthouse since early 2025, all arrested for minor charges, and ‘like no changes have happened from that,’ Karounos said.”"

"“Among the many professionals present during court proceedings, there are no doctors,” the public defenders I spoke to noted. “They have been trying to change that since last September, when the community of legal advocates issued a 10-step plan calling on the mayor and City Council to implement policy ‘to Address Growing Crisis of Deaths in NYPD Custody,’ including staffing courtrooms with independent EMS personnel.”"

"“Those workers would supplement existing correctional health staff who sometimes, at the behest of police officers, screen people waiting to be arraigned. The plan also calls for better mental health and substance use services, regular inspections of NYPD policy and central bookings buildings, and the end of custodial arrests for low-level crimes.”"

Read at The Nation