Advocates believe the two bills under consideration would help, but say broader changes are needed to fix the system and facilitate the closure of Rikers Island.
The number of outstanding questions reflects the size of the population involved, the magnitude of the construction projects the effort entails and the unique nature of building temporary housing for people who live there involuntarily.
‘Rikers Island has been a human rights atrocity since the 1930s, and we are closer than ever to closing it.’
There’s a Neighborhood Advisory Council in each of the four boroughs where the de Blasio administration plans to build a new jail facility to facilitate the closing of Rikers Island. Here’s what we know about their membership.
‘Nothing sends a bigger signal that the city is cravenly committed to a system of mass incarceration than the construction of giant new jails in the city’s thriving neighborhoods.’
Reforms to the bail system, evidence-sharing rules and speedy-trial requirements are at the top of the reform agenda—and will shape the city’s ‘close Rikers’ efforts as well.
While many Bronx politicians oppose the specific site the mayor has targeted for a new facility to partly replace Rikers Island, a vocal coalition of protesters is calling for an end to jails and policing as we know it.
Not so fast. With Raise the Age going into effect this week, the city’s 16- and 17-year-olds in custody are just moving from one jail to another.
What lessons do the 14 detention facilities already in city neighborhoods have for the debate over where to put new ones? Our reporter and a veteran Bronx advocate weighed in on the air.
Two veteran advocates for the arrested, the incarcerated and the recently released say that from bail reform to parole, Rikers to homeless shelters, the criminal justice system continues to damage people at high cost to taxpayers.
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