Advocates Praise US DOJ for Bringing Contempt Charges Against NYC DOC Over Conditions on Rikers Island and Push for Its Permanent Closure

New York, NY – In a stunning turn of events, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the intention of his office to pursue contempt proceedings over the countless human rights violations on Rikers Island following the death of William Johnstone on July 15th – the sixth individual in New York City Department of Corrections (DOC) custody to die this year. Williams also indicated that he would be seeking federal receivership of the jail complex as a result of the City and the DOC’s failure to address unsafe and unsanitary conditions in the eight years since entering a consent decree with the Justice Department mandating significant reforms to ensure the safety of detained New Yorkers. This comes in the wake of a 288-page report from the federal monitor, which found that in those eight years, conditions at Rikers – particularly the use of force by DOC guards – has worsened.

The New York ATI/Reentry Coalition welcomes the action of Mr. Williams to file contempt charges and push for receivership as the only viable measure to protect the lives of New Yorkers detained at Rikers, particularly in light of DOC’s recent actions to further limit the Board of Corrections’ access to video of happenings inside the jail and slash $17 million in funding for critical services on Rikers Island delivered by community-based providers. Coalition members agree that actions by the Department of Justice are critical to immediately reduce the population on Rikers and closing the jail complex for good.

Megan French-Marcelin, Senior Director of New York Policy at Legal Action Center said, “We cannot wait for this Mayor and this DOC Commissioner to begin to address the numerous human rights violations that have only increased over the current administration. While we continue to push for the shuttering of Rikers Island and the swift construction of borough-based jails, we applaud the actions of the Department of Justice to pursue contempt against the current administration’s gross neglect of the well-being of detained New Yorkers. Rikers Island must be closed by 2027 as mandated by law. Until then, we hope that receivership provides the necessary oversight to stop the blatant abuse that now abounds on ‘Torture Island.’”

“With three deaths in just the last two weeks, the horrifying conditions in New York City jails are clear,” said Jonathan McLean, President & CEO of CASES. “Every action must be taken to transform the dangerous and lethal culture of Rikers Island, including a federal receivership. The current leadership of Rikers is unable to provide basic safety, showing that a receiver is clearly needed. We must also take aggressive action to immediately reduce the population on Rikers Island. The best way to keep people safe is through supervised release and alternatives to incarceration, which provide the services and care people need while ensuring return to court and the completion of court mandates.”

“The Fortune Society applauds the stand taken by the US DOJ regarding the deplorable conditions on Rikers Island and its call for federal receivership. This critical step highlights the urgent need for change and reinforces the necessity of appointing a federal receiver, and the ultimate permanent closure of Rikers. We must all strive for a society that upholds the dignity and well-being of all individuals, fostering a future where no one is subjected to inhumane treatment,” said Rob DeLeon, Executive Vice President at the Fortune Society.

“In the past two years, we have seen a record number of lives lost on Rikers, including three deaths in the last two weeks alone. We condemn the cascade of human rights abuses and call upon the NYC Department of Correction Commissioner to take swift and decisive action to address this egregious, long-standing problem.” Reverend Wendy Calderon Payne, Executive Director, Urban Youth Alliance (BronxConnect) said, “The closure of Rikers Island is the most meaningful step the City could take towards genuine reform. By shutting down the decrepit complex, we can finally shift our focus to a more humane, community-centered approach to crime that reduces recidivism and addresses decades of structural inequities including the over-criminalization of Black and Brown communities. To foster public safety, we must renew meaningful investments in alternatives that prioritize mental health support, employment, and restorative justice, carving out viable paths for people to reintegrate into the community.”

“Escalating violence and the loss of three more people in custody in the past two weeks are devastating. Mr. Johnstone’s death this weekend hits us particularly hard as he was a participant in Osborne’s Court Advocacy Services, which works to achieve alternatives to detention and individualized, community-based sentences whenever appropriate so that more New Yorkers can avoid incarceration on Rikers. As we work toward closing Rikers, we must also stay focused on immediate, short-term solutions that are within reach, including getting people in custody to their court dates, resolving the cases of the 483 people who have been on Rikers for more than two years, and diverting the 50% of people with mental health diagnoses to a public health-based system. We must do better,” said Archana Jayaram, President and CEO of Osborne Association.

“The ineffective and hopeless operation of Rikers Island by the Mayor and DOC continues to demonstrate that detained individuals in their care are continuously at risk for harm, if not death. The breakdown of human rights and the increasing lack of transparency are of urgent concern.” Neela Mukherjee Lockel, MSW, MPA, President and Chief Executive Officer of EAC Network said, “EAC Network applauds the US Attorney’s effort to put Rikers Island into receivership. We hope it will provide the crucial oversight needed to put an end to the rampant abuse and disregard for humanity. It is well-past time to prioritize the well-being and safety of those in custody and work towards a more just and humane criminal justice system.”