Advocates call on courts to cut back on the number of New Yorkers they send to Rikers

Advocates call on courts to cut back on the number of New Yorkers they send to Rikers

As the population on Rikers Island continues to grow past 7,000 detainees – its highest point since 2019 – a collection of criminal justice groups are calling on judges and the court system to do more to keep New Yorkers out of the troubled jail complex.

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Jail expert says DOC boss should remain in charge of Rikers as judge weighs receivership

Jail expert says DOC boss should remain in charge of Rikers as judge weighs receivership

As a federal judge continues to consider taking Rikers Island out of the city’s control, a jail expert hired by the city says that current Department of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie should remain in charge of the violent jail complex.

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Queens pol says Adams mischaracterized chat about bringing ICE to Rikers

Queens pol says Adams mischaracterized chat about bringing ICE to Rikers

A Queens councilmember told the Eagle that the mayor mischaracterized their conversations about bringing ICE to Rikers Island, a move that has landed the mayor in court and brought on accusations that he traded access to the jail for the dismissal of his criminal case.

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Council and mayor’s office clash over Rikers’ closure plan

Council and mayor’s office clash over Rikers’ closure plan

The mayor’s office and the City Council remained in a standoff over the closure of Rikers Island on Wednesday, unable to agree on how the city should chart a new path toward shutting the deadly jail complex.

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City Council lays groundwork to sue mayor for bringing ICE to Rikers

City Council lays groundwork to sue mayor for bringing ICE to Rikers

The City Council on Thursday laid the groundwork to sue the mayor over his administration’s controversial executive order allowing federal immigration agents onto Rikers Island, a move that lawmakers say could be a violation of the city’s sanctuary city laws.

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DOC boss out of the loop on plan to bring ICE to Rikers

DOC boss out of the loop on plan to bring ICE to Rikers

Top officials at the Department of Correction said Friday that the mayor’s office has yet to speak with them about the potential return of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers to Rikers Island, despite Mayor Eric Adams announcing the change weeks ago.

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Rikers monitor endorses Adams’ pause on solitary ban

Rikers monitor endorses Adams’ pause on solitary ban

The monitor appointed by a judge to track violence in the city’s notorious jail complex said in a highly-anticipated report last week that a yet-to-be-implemented city law banning solitary confinement would “only exacerbate the current dangerous conditions” on Rikers Island.

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City nominates itself to take over Rikers

City nominates itself to take over Rikers

City Hall late Friday told a federal judge that she should look no further than the current Department of Correction commissioner should she choose to strip the city of its control of Rikers Island and hand the notorious jail complex over to a receiver.

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Rikers replacement in Manhattan to open five years after jail complex’s closure

Rikers replacement in Manhattan to open five years after jail complex’s closure

While it’s long been expected, the contract presented for Manhattan’s borough-based jail made it official – none of the new jails will be completed before Rikers is required to close.

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A century of violence, chaos and death: Inside the troubled history of Rikers Island

A century of violence, chaos and death: Inside the troubled history of Rikers Island

As a federal judge considers taking Rikers Island out of the city’s control and handing it to a court-appointed receiver, the Eagle is looking back at the history of the city’s troubled jail complex in an effort to understand how the city arrived at this critical moment.

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