Federal takeover being considered at Rikers jail complex

Fifteen prisoners passed away in custody last year. April 26, 2022, 4:01 PM – 4 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleAfter years of failed efforts to reform Rikers Island, a federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday will think about whether to put New York Citys sprawling and struggling prison complex under control of the court.Judge Laura Taylor Swain in 2014 appointed a federal screen but Rikers, part of the New York City Department of Correction, stays pestered by staffing issues, physical deterioration and violence.People walk by a sign at the entryway to Rikers Island, March 31, 2017, in New York.Fifteen inmates passed away in custody last year and 3 have passed away so far in 2022. There were more than 5 dozen stabbings in March alone.Damien Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, revealed alarm at the level of violence. He raised the possibility of federal receivership to force modification.” The prisons remain in a state of crisis, prisoners and staff are being seriously hurt, and action is frantically required now,” Williams said in a letter to the court. “Based on our experience over the last 6 years and the sustained non-compliance with essential Consent Judgment arrangements and the 3 subsequent Remedial Orders gone into by this Court, our Office is really worried about whether the Department and City have the ability, knowledge, and will to quickly make the changes necessary to bring true reform to this deeply struggling agency.” A basic view reveals the Rikers Island jail complex in the East River of New York, Jan. 13, 2022. The administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in its own letter to the court, insisted it is making progress and requested for more time.” The amazing step of purchasing a receivership is not warranted and DOJs recommendation to it, less than four months into Commissioner Molinas term, is unjust,” said Kimberly Joyce of the New York City Law Department. “The commissioner has taken more far-reaching action than has actually previously been demonstrated.” Swain has ordered Correction Commissioner Louis Molina to participate in the afternoon hearing, marking the very first time all the stakeholders will convene given that the possibility of a federal takeover was raised.ABC News has formerly recorded the horror at Rikers. Special product from Diane Sawyers project aired as a complete episode of “Nightline.”.