New York City jails receivership hearing scheduled for Jan. 14 after more than a decade of legal battle.
The federal judge overseeing New York City’s troubled jails, including Rikers Island, has found the city in contempt for its failure to address violence and excessive force within the facilities. Judge Laura Taylor Swain’s 65-page opinion stated that the city and its Department of Correction had violated the constitutional rights of both inmates and staff by exposing them to dangerous conditions and disregarding previous court orders.
The judge expressed her inclination towards appointing an outside authority, known as a receiver, to take control of the jails. This receiver would ensure that the management of the use of force and safety within Rikers Island is directly accountable to the court. Judge Swain has directed the city and lawyers representing prisoners to create a plan for the receivership by January 14.
This ruling comes after almost ten years of federal oversight of New York City’s jails, which began as a result of a class-action lawsuit filed by prisoners and the Legal Aid Society. Despite this oversight, violence has persisted within the jails, leading to the deaths of at least 33 individuals in the past two years.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation.
Source: The NY Times
