Rikers Island
News & Politics
Which city leaders are calling for a federal takeover of Rikers Island?
The city comptroller, public advocate, state attorney general, federal prosecutors and even former DOC commissioners all support federal receivership for the city’s jails.
Rikers Island
Federal monitor concludes DOC is incapable of running Rikers well
The monitor’s latest report finds that stabbings are up, deaths in custody are continuing and nothing will change so long as DOC is in charge.
Rikers Island
What would receivership look like for Rikers Island?
Here are the options a judge has for stripping New York City of its control of the dysfunctional jail complex.
Policy
After PR stunts, damning reports and a new lawsuit, judge sets stage for potential federal takeover of Rikers next year
Federal judge Laura Taylor Swain is losing patience with the city Department of Correction, which has now come under fire from the court-appointed federal monitor, Legal Aid Society, federal prosecutors, city comptroller and Board of Correction.
Opinion
Opinion: Closing Rikers is the joke of the decade
There’s no way Rikers will be replaced by four borough-based jails by 2027. So let’s reform Rikers instead.
Opinion
Opinion: Eric Adams has failed. It’s time for a federal receiver to take over at Rikers
Receivership is the only way to improve conditions and save lives at the troubled jail complex
Editor's Note
Editor's Note: How many more will die at Rikers?
The city keeps sending people to the infamous jail complex, and people keep dying.
Policy
More people have died in New York City jails than previously known
Since 2014, at least 120 people held in city jails have died while in custody or shortly after being released on medical grounds – but some of those deaths have gone unreported.
Policy
Here's how parents are really treated on Rikers
Unable to exercise their parental rights, incarcerated fathers and mothers can often feel isolated from their children.
Rikers Island
Elected officials sound the alarm on proposed city budget cuts to Rikers
Amid proposed cuts to jail-based programming, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams says the Eric Adams administration is at a crossroads
Rikers Island
Comptroller and public advocate tour Rikers, call on feds to take over Rikers
After touring the jail complex, Brad Lander and Jumaane Williams said the city cannot be trusted to manage Rikers Island.
Opinion
Opinion: We can’t give up on closing Rikers
The city can still close the jail by 2027 if it invests in alternatives to incarceration and supportive housing.
New York City
Urgency to improve Rikers conditions grows as inmate hunger strike enters Day 6
Advocates on Thursday demanded Mayor Eric Adams step in to improve conditions at a rally outside the jail complex.
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Rikers Island
Don’t leave people to die from COVID-19 on Rikers Island
The conditions are crowded and unsanitary and the spread inside will eventually get outside.
New York City
Rikers Island should get green infrastructure
When Rikers Island closes, use the land to fight climate change, pollution and environmental injustice.
New York City
Rafael Salamanca on his biggest land use issues
New York City Councilman Rafael Salamanca talks Amazon, homelessness and jails.
Rikers Island
Díaz criticizes siting of Rikers replacement in South Bronx
Ruben Díaz Jr. wants a replacement Rikers site closer to the courthouse.
Rikers Island
Kids can’t survive the NYC Department of Correction
Correction officers should not follow youth off of Rikers Island.
Rikers Island
Akeem Browder, brother of Kalief, disappointed in de Blasio’s bail response
Akeem Browder, brother of Kalief Browder, criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio’s lukewarm response to a foundation plan to bail out women and minors in New York City.
New York City
