By Forum Staff
The City Council last week voted to pass legislation that would provide technology for people in custody to review their case materials, require clinical assessments of people in custody upon request, and mandate the establishment of a mayoral office solely dedicated to the permanent closure of Rikers Island and transition to the borough based-jail system.
Together, council leadership said, the bills passed by the council last Wednesday will advance the plan to close Rikers by reducing court case delays that have inflated the jail population. These legislative solutions were first recommended in the Independent Rikers Commission’s Blueprint to Close Rikers and later identified by the council as steps that the City must immediately take, according to the council.
The bills that were passed include:
Introduction 1238-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, would require the Department of Correction to ensure all persons in custody with a pending criminal proceeding have the technology necessary to securely receive and review case evidence via a department-issued tablet or through access provided in the law library.
Introduction 1240-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Rita Joseph, would require the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, upon request of a person in custody or their attorney, to conduct a holistic needs assessment when one is required for acceptance into a court-based alternative to incarceration program. These clinical assessments will include information on a person’s mental health, physical health, intellectual disabilities, history of trauma, and other psychosocial conditions or circumstances at the time of a person’s arrest.
Introduction 1242-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Sandy Nurse, would require the establishment of an Office of Coordinator for Rikers Island Closure with a full-time coordinator. This new office will be responsible for coordinating actions and policies by agencies with a role in the closure of Rikers Island, including those with duties related to jail population reduction, design and construction of the borough-based jails, design and construction of outposted therapeutic housing units, correctional workforce development, and planning for the future use of Rikers Island for environmental sustainability and resiliency purposes. This bill also requires the establishment of Coordinator for Borough-Based Jail Transition within DOC.
“Permanently closing Rikers Island and ending the humanitarian crisis that endangers staff and detained people have been a top priority for this council,” said Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The continued deaths and horrific conditions in city jails underscore the urgency that city government must act. With the passage of today’s bills, the Council is once again demonstrating our steadfast commitment to advance the closure of Rikers and improve the health and safety of all New Yorkers.”
Nurse added, “Forty five people have died in our city jails under Mayor Adams’ watch while his administration has made little progress to close Rikers. My bill, Int. 1242-A, will finally establish an office solely focused on transitioning away from Rikers to the borough-based jails plan and create an interagency working group that consistently works towards that goal. Today’s passage also moves us towards realizing the vision for a Renewable Rikers Island that will contribute to our city’s environmental sustainability.”
