Photo: Mayor de Blasio speaking at Rikers Island earlier this year. File Photo
Federal and city officials this week agreed in principle to a settlement that portends to bring exhaustive changes to Rikers Island.
The pact among the parties in Nunez vs. City of New York, a class-action lawsuit that sought to reform the jail system, includes the selection of an independent monitor who will be responsible for assessing compliance with each provision of the agreement and submitting periodic reports to the court.
The provisions include development of a new use of force policy for Department of Correction personnel; increased accountability; comprehensive video surveillance of the jails; implementation of a pilot program for body-worn cameras; enhanced computerized tracking systems; improved DOC staff recruitment, selection, and training; and an emphasis on the safety and supervision of young inmates—most notably the restrictions on use of punitive segregation for youthful offenders.
The new practices, policies, systems, and procedures, according to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, are designed to reduce violence in the jails and ensure the safety and well-being of inmates.
“I have repeatedly made clear our unwavering commitment to enduring and enforceable reform at Rikers Island… we have reached a groundbreaking agreement in principle with city officials, subject to ultimate approval by the court. This comprehensive framework requires the city to implement sweeping operational changes to fix a broken system and dismantle a decades-long culture of violence. Its ongoing implementation will be overseen by the court and an independent federal monitor. Federal prosecutors will remain vigilant to ensure that the Constitution protects each and every person within the walls of Rikers Island,” Bharara said on Monday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the agreement “builds upon the important changes this administration is bringing to our correctional system and reinforces the necessity of Commissioner Ponte’s current reforms on Rikers Island. We have a moral imperative to ensure every New Yorker in this city’s care is treated with decency and respect. I appointed Commissioner [Joe] Ponte to bring real change to a correctional system plagued by years of abuse and neglect, and since his tenure he has taken extraordinary steps to reform Rikers Island and end this culture of violence. Today’s agreement represents another strong step toward our goal of reversing the decades of abuse on Rikers and building a culture of safety for officers and inmates alike.”
Bharara also praised the city for its commitment “to moving forward with its reform efforts,” and noted that the settlement “takes into account reforms undertaken by the City on its own initiative, particularly with respect to the treatment of adolescents.”
Ponte added, “All parties involved in these negotiations share a common goal: We are determined to make New York City’s Department of Correction the best and safest correctional institution in the country. Our comprehensive program to reform DOC is well under way, and today’s agreement will help us achieve our shared goal of creating a culture of safety on Rikers Island. We look forward to implementing all elements of the agreement, and pledge to work closely with the federal monitor as we further establish a culture of safety at DOC.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
