New York City will no longer control its jail system and an outside manager will take over, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Laura Swain said she would appoint a remediation manager to take steps to restore order in the city's jails, including troubled Rikers Island.
In a 77-page order, Swain said she expects the remediation manager to work alongside the Department of Corrections Commissioner. The ruling comes almost decade after the city’s jail system was placed under federal oversight as part of a class-action lawsuit brought by detainees.
The rates of violence have continued to increase, creating a “grave and immediate threat” that violates the constitutional rights of those in custody, Swain wrote.
In November, Swain found the city in contempt for failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders, as the jail system did not fix security, staffing, supervision mandates, as well as curtail its use of force on young detainees.
Under the Receivership Proposal, the remediation manager would have ultimate authority over DOC functions and divisions, while the Commissioner would retain authority over other DOC functions and divisions, the order said.
"The federal court’s decision to appoint a remediation manager to oversee changes on Rikers reflects the mayoral administration’s failure to adhere to the Nunez Court Orders and convince the court of meaningful progress to make the jails safer," said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams."While this intervention presents a crucial opportunity to bring lasting change to our jail system, the next steps must advance the closure of Rikers and transition to more effective borough-based jails as the solutions for a safer jail system and city.”
Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the terrible conditions at Rikers Island, which has been decades in the making. During his regular Tuesday press conference, he said some improvements have occurred, including a decrease in incidents involving slashing, stabbings, use of force and assaults on officers.
"We already have a special monitor," Adams said. "We have this oversight, that oversight, that oversight. How much oversight are you going to do before you realize that there's some systemic problems that we have turned around?"
Swain said the city must submit potential candidates for the remediation manager position by Aug. 29.
