Rikers Island, New York City's notorious detention center, is on track for a possible federal takeover after a judge found the city to be in civil contempt. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain issued a ruling on Wednesday that detailed the city's failure in addressing use of force and safety concerns, as reported by CBS News New York. This comes more than nine years after a settlement required the city to implement wide-ranging reforms at the jail.
The judge highlighted an alarming persistence in violence and brutality at the jail complex, stating that incarcerated individuals were placed in "unconstitutional danger." Despite a legal settlement meant to rectify these issues dating back to a 2012 lawsuit, improvements have been moving at what Swain characterized as a "glacial pace." In NBC News' coverage, Swain called for the city to work with a court-appointed monitor to draft a framework for federal receivership of the jail complex by January 14.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed opposition to such a takeover, yet recognized that further improvements are needed. "We are proud of our work, but recognize there is more to be done and look forward to working with the federal monitoring team on our shared goal of continuing to improve the safety of everyone in our jails," Adams said in a statement obtained by NBC News. This narrative of progression clashes with the judge's findings of the administration's insufficiencies and signs of acting in bad faith at times.
The response from several parties was mixed, reflecting differing perspectives on the root causes and potential solutions for Rikers' problems. The Legal Aid Society celebrated the decision as "historic," hoping for a reform path independent of political influences, according to their statement. "The court's recognition that the current structure has failed, and that receivership free from political and other external influences is the path forward, can ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of incarceration status, are treated with the respect and dignity guaranteed to them under the law," they shared. However, Benny Boscio, the president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, contested the ruling, attributing increased violence at Rikers to staff reductions and a lack of support from city lawmakers and the federal monitor. "Outsourcing control of Rikers Island to a federal receiver, will not be a silver bullet and will not solve any of these problems," Boscio told CBS News New York.
As for the ongoing issues at Rikers, fatalities in the facility have continued to rise, with nineteen people dying in custody in 2022, nine more in 2023, and five in the first eight months of this year. Rates of violence, including stabbings, slashings, and assaults, were especially highlighted by Judge Swain as "extraordinarily high," as detailed by NBC News. Amid this chaos, a city council-approved plan intends to close Rikers Island by 2027, although meeting this deadline seems uncertain as New York City's jail population grows and replacement jails lag behind schedule. Despite the plan, Mayor Adams has hinted at the need for a "Plan B," signaling hesitance towards the original closure strategy.
