As New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council approach the July 1 budget deadline, elected officials and criminal justice advocates are pushing back against planned cuts to jail-based programming at the Rikers Island jail complex. At a press conference outside City Hall on Thursday morning, New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and the nonprofit organizations Osborne Association and The Fortune Society called on the administration and the City Council to restore funding to the programs.

“I am deeply concerned about the administration’s proposed $17 million cut and elimination of program contracts. This move to cut these contracts is irresponsible,” said Rivera, who serves as chair of the council committee on criminal justice.

Adams and the Department of Correction plan to end contracts with nonprofit organizations who provide programs meant to rehabilitate incarcerated individuals in jail and upon release, in order to save $17 million in next year’s budget. This will result in several classes – including developing professional trade skills, financial literacy, cognitive behavioral therapy, substance abuse prevention and anger management – being canceled beginning on June 30.

Many elected officials have warned about the terrible conditions at Rikers, referring to the jails complex as a “humanitarian crisis,” and criminal justice advocates assert that cuts to jail-based programming will only make conditions worse.

When asked about the budget cuts by City & State, a spokesperson for the DOC confirmed that the department will assume the responsibilities previously carried out by the contracted providers and will offer additional programs to people in custody – including educational programming, career and technical education, fine/performing arts, and other enrichment activities.