Mayor says city should fix Rikers, not court-appointed receiver

 Mayor says city should fix Rikers, not court-appointed receiver

In his first public comments since the Legal Aid Society officially asked a federal judge to strip control of Rikers Island away from the city, Mayor Eric Adams said that the troubled jail complex is better off in the city’s hands. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Rikers receivership proceedings begin

Rikers receivership proceedings begin

The city came closer than it has ever been to having its control over Rikers Island stripped away on Thursday after a federal judge said that she’d consider installing a federal receiver in the coming months. 

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‘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. 

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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. 

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Rikers detainee dies: William Johnstone becomes sixth person in DOC custody to die this year

Rikers detainee dies: William Johnstone becomes sixth person in DOC custody to die this year

For the sixth time this year and the third time in as many weeks, a person in the Department of Correction’s custody has died. William Johnstone, 47, was found unresponsive in the cell he was being held in on Rikers Island around 1:50 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Department of Correction. 

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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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City will remain in control of Rikers after judge accepts action plan

City will remain in control of Rikers after judge accepts action plan

Mayor Eric Adams and his Department of Corrections commissioner, Louis Molina, will remain in control of Rikers Island for at least several months longer, a federal judge ruled this week.

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