NonilexMay 13

A federal judge overseeing #NYC’s #jails took #RikersIsland out of the city’s control on Tues, ordering that an outside official be appointed to make major decisions regarding the troubled & violent #jail complex.

The judge, Laura Taylor Swain, said in a 77-page ruling that the official would report directly to her & would not be a city employee, turning aside Mayor #EricAdams’ efforts to maintain control of the lockups.

#law #PrisonReform
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/nyregion/rikers-island-receiver-nyc.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=p&pvid=DCD52F94-91CF-4B52-8FA4-9B150ACB6903

Outside Official Will Take Over Deadly Rikers Island Jail, Judge Orders

Laura Taylor Swain, a federal judge, seized control of New York City’s lockups, which have been rife with violence and dysfunction.

The New York Times
Show threadNonilexMay 13

The official, called a remediation manager, will work with the #NYC correction commissioner, but be “empowered to take all actions necessary” to turn around the city’s #jails, Judge Swain wrote.

“While the necessary changes will take some time, the court expects to see continual progress toward these goals,” she wrote.

#law #PrisonReform #RikersIsland #jail

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The order comes nearly a decade after #NYC’s jails, which include the #RikersIsland complex, fell under #federal #oversight in the settlement of a #ClassAction lawsuit. The agreement focused on curbing the use of #force & #violence toward both inmates & correction officers. A court-appointed monitor issued regular reports on the persistent mayhem.

#law #PrisonReform #jail

May 13 at 3:48pmWeb
Show threadNonilexMay 13

#NYC has held onto its control of #RikersIsland w/white knuckles — struggling to show progress & reaching the brink of losing #oversight of the #jails as critics of the system called for an outside authority. Conditions have not improved, acc/to lawyers for the plaintiffs & the federal monitor.

NYC has spent >$500k per inmate annually in recent years, acc/to city data, well beyond what other large cities have spent, & yet detainees still sometimes go without food or proper medical care.

#law

Show threadNonilexMay 13

A NYT investigation in 2021 found that guards are often stationed in inefficient ways that fail to protect inmates. And although the #jail system has consistently been the most well-staffed in the United States — there is roughly one uniformed officer for each inmate at Rikers, according to city data — an unlimited sick leave policy & other uses of leave have meant that staffing can drop to dangerous levels.

#law #PrisonReform #RikersIsland #NYC

Show threadNonilexMay 13

The class-action lawsuit that led to the takeover, known as Nunez v. City of New York, was settled in June 2015 & required that the jails, particularly #RikersIsland, be overseen by a court-appointed monitor who would issue regular reports on conditions there but would wield no direct power to effect change.

Through those reports, Judge Swain was given an extensive history of the cyclical nature of the #jail system’s problems.

#law #PrisonReform #NYC

Show threadNonilexMay 13

Through the administrations of 2 mayors & several correction commissioners, the #jails continued to devolve, acc/to prisoners’ rights advocates & the monitor’s reports. In November, the judge found #NYC in #contempt for failing to stem #violence & excessive #force at the facility, which is currently run by Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.

#law #PrisonReform #RikersIsland