New York Judge Orders Rikers Island Oversight

Chief U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain has ordered New York City to prepare for a federal takeover of the Rikers Island jail complex, citing the Department of Corrections' (DOC) failure to comply with court-ordered reforms aimed at reducing violence and improving conditions. The judge found the city in civil contempt for violating 18 provisions of a 2015 consent decree, which followed a lawsuit alleging brutality against detainees. Despite attempts at reform, violence and dangerous conditions have worsened, prompting the Legal Aid Society to call the ruling historic. Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the need for improvement but opposed the federal receivership, while a union representing correction officers criticized the ruling. A plan for receivership is due by January 14, 2024, as the situation at Rikers continues to draw national attention. Over the past two years, at least 33 inmates have died in custody or shortly after release, highlighting the urgent need for reform.