United States: A US judge has indicated a great preference towards a federal takeover of New York City’s Rikers Island jail complex because of recurrent safety concerns as they compromise the lives of the inmates as well as the workers. The decision comes as the concern of violence within the Monmouth County jail remains and as the last instance of city’s refusal to make the required changes, as reported by Reuters.
Court Findings on Violent Conditions and Violations
Chief U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain delivered a 65-page opinion accusing the city and the Department of Correction of being in contempt of 18 provisions of previous court orders. These orders were designed to address issues like excessive use of force and inadequate staff supervision. The case stems from a 2012 class action lawsuit that claimed conditions at Rikers violated constitutional rights. In 2015, the city agreed to have a federal monitor oversee improvements, but conditions have not sufficiently improved.
Judge Seeks Receivership and Deadline for Solutions
Swain suggested a receivership, where an independent person would take charge of safety at the jail, but allowed the city, plaintiffs, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office until January 14 to propose a settlement plan.
The city responded by asserting that improvements have been made and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the federal monitor to enhance safety measures.
Rising Violence and Deaths at Rikers
Judge Swain brought up the new figures pointing to more acts of violence in the jail. The use of force was reported 6,784 times in 2023 and 4,652 times in 2016. Tortured USA detainees have died in custody of forced ingestion of drugs, no food or water in at least 34 cases since January 2022.
Rikers Island detaining over 6,000 inmates by mid 2023 with data compiled from New York City Comptroller’s office.
How to do reform and legal advocacy
The Legal Aid Society, which partially funded the initial class action lawsuit, applauded the judge’s decision as the first step towards change. The nonprofit sees it as a framework for change for the better at Rikers, pointing out that its goal is to make a jail system that is safer for inmates, as reported by Reuters.