Judge Finds NYC, DOC in Contempt Over Rikers

A federal judge has found New York City and its Department of Correction in contempt for failing to address violence and poor conditions in the Rikers Island jail complex. Judge Laura Taylor Swain's ruling highlights the city's non-compliance with court orders dating back to a 2015 settlement intended to remedy excessive use of force and unsafe conditions. Despite federal oversight, conditions have worsened, prompting Swain to consider imposing a federal receivership to take over management of Rikers. The Legal Aid Society, which initiated the lawsuit, supports this move, seeing it as a potential pathway for reform free from political influence. City officials have been ordered to propose a receivership plan by mid-January, marking a significant step towards potential federal control of the troubled jail system.