Jails

Oversight Board Questions ‘Emergency Orders’ at City Jails

Nov. 17, 2023, 2:00 p.m.Nov. 17, 2023, 2:00 p.m.

Every five days for two years Mayor Eric Adams has re-upped executive orders that allow Department of Corrections leaders to skirt regulations designed to protect inmates.

Rikers Island

Hundreds of Women File Rape Lawsuits Against City Jails

Nov. 9, 2023, 5:00 a.m.Nov. 9, 2023, 11:11 a.m.

The suits filed as part of the state’s extension of the statute of limitations under the Adult Victims Act allege a culture of abuse and cover-up at the Department of Correction.

Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina speaks at a Board of Correction meeting in Lower Manhattan about restricting physical mail to people housed on Rikers Island, March 14, 2023.

Jails

Jails Commish Molina Transferred to City Hall as Rikers Receivership Looms

Oct. 31, 2023, 7:29 p.m.Nov. 15, 2023, 11:32 a.m.

With the future of city lock-ups still in flux, the embattled commissioner is now set to be an assistant deputy mayor for public safety.

A sign inside a visitor center at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island said mothers were permitted hold their children.

Jails

More than 15,000 Rikers Jail Video Visits Canceled Since 2020

Oct. 19, 2023, 5:02 a.m.Oct. 19, 2023, 10:39 a.m.

Loved ones and lawyers don’t buy the Correction Department’s reasons for all those abruptly disconnected conferences. Meanwhile, in-person visits are at a fraction of what they were pre-pandemic.

A Rikers guard pepper sprays a detainee who tried to intervene after another detainee attacked an officer, according to an incident report.

Department of Correction

Federal Monitor Chides City Jails Brass for Increased Violence, Lies

Oct. 5, 2023, 3:56 p.m.Oct. 11, 2023, 3:11 p.m.

The 10th report from Steve Martin says violence at Rikers Island is only increasing while transparency is decreasing.

Criminal Justice

Brooklyn Conviction Review Unit Wants to ‘Correct Mistakes’ Quicker — But Still Silencing Cases

Oct. 3, 2023, 5:00 a.m.Oct. 3, 2023, 4:15 p.m.

While the Kings County squad has been hailed as a model, critics — and its leader — say the CRU can do better.

Rikers Island

New Council Bill Would Shine Light on Jail Deaths

Sept. 27, 2023, 5:38 p.m.Sept. 27, 2023, 5:40 p.m.

The push for increased transparency behind bars comes months after the Department of Correction suddenly stopped notifying the media about fatal incidents in city jails.

Jails

Eight Rikers Detainees Slashed While Shackled to ‘Restraint Desks’

Sept. 18, 2023, 5:00 a.m.Sept. 18, 2023, 10:03 a.m.

Chaining people to desks for educational programs behind bars — in lieu of adequate staffing or training — actually leads to more violence, jail reform advocates say.