Jail boss blames courts for rising Rikers population

Jail boss blames courts for rising Rikers population

Rikers Island’s population is growing larger when it should be getting smaller. DOC Commissioner Louis Molina said the blame lies with the state court system during a Board of Correction meeting this week.

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Cuts to Rikers programming blasted as 'irresponsible' by lawmakers and service providers

Cuts to Rikers programming blasted as 'irresponsible' by lawmakers and service providers

With a little more than a week before the Department of Correction plans to sever its contracts with nearly half a dozen nonprofits that provide services to detainees on Rikers Island, elected officials, formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and top officials with the affected organizations called on the city to find new ways to save $17 million dollars.

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Rikers receivership process may begin as soon as late summer, judge says

Rikers receivership process may begin as soon as late summer, judge says

A federal judge said Tuesday that her confidence in the Department of Correction’s ability and commitment to reform troubled Rikers Island has been “shaken” and that she’s open to hearing arguments about why the jail should be handed over to a federal receiver.

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Public advocate and comptroller call for federal receivership after Rikers tour

Public advocate and comptroller call for federal receivership after Rikers tour

Two top city officials took a trip to Rikers Island on Wednesday following a troubling month in the jail complex. And while they said conditions there were far less chaotic than they have been in recent years, they still feel a judge should strip control of Rikers Island away from the city.

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Lawmakers question DOC’s ability to get detainees to court

Lawmakers question DOC’s ability to get detainees to court

While Department of Correction officials say that their ability to get detainees to their court appearances has markedly improved over the past year, others say the corrections agency isn’t being forthcoming about its practices.

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‘Harm, life-altering injuries and death’: Monitor says DOC failed to report five serious incidents on Rikers

 ‘Harm, life-altering injuries and death’: Monitor says DOC failed to report five serious incidents on Rikers

Hours before the holiday weekend, the federal monitor overseeing Rikers Island filed a “special report” alleging that Department of Correction brass wasn’t forthcoming about nearly half a dozen recent fatal or near-fatal incidents in the city’s jails.

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Jail oversight board bungles monthly meeting – again

Jail oversight board bungles monthly meeting – again

The Board of Correction’s monthly meeting fell into chaos after technical difficulties left the board’s livestream sputtering, and after the board’s chair clashed with a criminal justice reform advocate and his fellow board members agitated by the board’s inability to hold its scheduled public hearing.

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