Rikers receivership case sluggishly moves forward

Rikers receivership case sluggishly moves forward

For the first time in nearly seven months, the city’s Department of Correction on Tuesday appeared before the federal judge currently considering whether or not the city should be stripped of its control of Rikers Island, the troubled jail complex that has seen over two dozen deaths in the past two years.

Read More

Solitary confinement ban comes into view, but city challenge remains

Solitary confinement ban comes into view, but city challenge remains

Advocates, lawmakers and public defenders on Monday urged the city’s jail watchdog to ensure that the City Council’s ban on solitary confinement be fully implemented before the end of next month, despite ongoing efforts from the city and Department of Correction to delay the law’s enactment.

Read More

Council overrides mayor’s vetoes of criminal justice bills

Council overrides mayor’s vetoes of criminal justice bills

The City Council on Tuesday voted to override the mayor’s veto of a bill aimed at increasing transparency in the NYPD and a bill to ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails, putting to an end a weeks-long public debate riddled with accusations from both councilmembers, Mayor Eric Adams and his allies that the other side purposely were spreading half-truths or outright lies.

Read More

Attorney general, NYCBA and public defenders call for Rikers receiver

Attorney general, NYCBA and public defenders call for Rikers receiver

The New York State attorney general, a top bar association, scores of public defense organizations, several former New York City officials and a criminal justice nonprofit all called on a federal judge to strip control over Rikers Island away from the city and hand it over to a court-appointed receiver. 

Read More

Month after ‘promotion,’ Molina remains DOC boss

Month after ‘promotion,’ Molina remains DOC boss

City Hall said Louis Molina would move from Department of Correction commissioner to assistant deputy mayor in “mid-November.” But in a sworn affidavit this week, Molina said he remains in charge of the agency, and doesn’t know when a successor will be named.

Read More

Legal Aid officially files for federal takeover of Rikers Island

Legal Aid officially files for federal takeover of Rikers Island

Attorneys with the Legal Aid Society and prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York officially asked a federal judge on Friday to strip the city of its control over Rikers Island and hand the jail complex over to a federal authority.

Read More

Federal judge scolds DOC boss for ‘disturbing’ attempt to influence Rikers monitor

Federal judge scolds DOC boss for ‘disturbing’ attempt to influence Rikers monitor

“These actions are, simply put, unacceptable,” a federal judge said of Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina’s alleged attempt to influence a report compiled by the monitor in charge of keeping tabs on conditions on Rikers Island.

Read More

Correctional officer union sues city

Correctional officer union sues city

The union representing correctional officers working on Rikers Island sued the Department of Correction this week, alleging the agency illegally told officers to speak with the federal monitor responsible for tracking violence in the jail. 

Read More

‘Haphazard, tepid, and insubstantial’ : Ahead of crucial court appearance, monitor says little has changed on Rikers Island

‘Haphazard, tepid, and insubstantial’ : Ahead of crucial court appearance, monitor says little has changed on Rikers Island

A month ago, the federal monitor charged with overseeing conditions on Rikers Island said the city should be held in contempt for failing to tamp down violent conditions within the notorious jail complex. Four weeks later and just days before a consequential court hearing in a case that could see New York City lose control of Rikers, the monitor says not much has changed. 

Read More

Good government group calls for Rikers receivership

Good government group calls for Rikers receivership

Last week, good government group Citizens Union joined the a number of elected officials, advocates and others in calling for federal Judge Laura Swain to put the city’s notorious jail complex into a federal receivership, or a judicial order that could see the power to manage Rikers handed over to a court-appointed authority. 

Read More