2LT International News

NEW YORK CITY, New York: A federal judge has decided to take control of New York’s Rikers Island jail away from city officials due to years of worsening violence and dangerous conditions.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an independent “remediation manager” with broad powers to improve safety at the jail. This person will report directly to her and can make changes to jail rules, hire staff, and discipline employees who break rules about the use of force.

In her 77-page decision, Judge Swain said the jail still has very high levels of violence, including fights, stabbings, attacks on staff, and deaths in custody. She said the city has not done enough to protect inmates and staff from harm.

Lawyers representing inmates welcomed the move, calling it an important step and a clear sign that the city has failed to keep people safe or respect their rights.

Mayor Eric Adams stated that the problems at Rikers have existed for decades and that he has already taken steps to address them, including hiring a new corrections chief last year. He said he would follow the judge’s orders.

This ruling follows the city’s finding in contempt of court for failing to comply with earlier instructions to improve jail conditions. The city had agreed in 2015 to have a court monitor track progress, but things have not improved.

In 2023, there were nearly 6,800 incidents involving the use of force at Rikers — up sharply from 2016 — and 33 people have died in custody since 2022. As of mid-2023, the jail held over 6,000 people, and about 20% of them had serious mental illnesses.

The City Council had approved a plan to shut down Rikers by 2027 and replace it with four new jails; however, that plan is now behind schedule.