New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman speaks during a Law Day event at the Court of Appeals on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, in Albany, N.Y. Photo: Hans Pennink
The New York City Council is reinvigorating efforts to close the controversial Rikers Island jail complex. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmember Carlina Rivera announced the reappointment of the Independent Rikers Commission, led by former New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.
The revitalized commission aims to strengthen plans for the closure of Rikers and its replacement with borough-based jails by 2027, as mandated by law.
“Rikers has to close as soon as possible,” said Jonathan Lippman, chair of the Commission and former chief judge of the State of New York. “The jails there hurt public safety and endanger the lives of everyone inside their walls. They are a stain on the soul of our city.”
Rivera stressed the urgency of the situation, saying, “Reducing the population is urgent, and we need as many voices as possible at the table to reiterate how important alternatives to incarceration, reentry services, and streamlined case processing are to our timeline.”
The renewed push for closure comes as grim statistics continue to paint a dire picture of the conditions on Rikers Island. More than half of the incarcerated population there have a mental illness, and the average wait time for a trial is 260 days. Moreover, nine incarcerated individuals have died this year.
These issues, according to experts, exacerbate public safety concerns and compromise human rights. The borough-based jails slated to replace Rikers aim to offer a more humane and effective system. However, construction delays and insufficient treatment beds are among the logistical challenges facing the Commission as it races against the legal deadline.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also lent his support, noting how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the criminal justice system, including the timeline for Rikers’…
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