By Courtney Gross from Spectrum News NY1
Published September 25, 2024
Lawyers for prisoners on Rikers Island continued in court Wednesday to make the same
arguments they have for years — that a massive overhaul is needed to make the city’s jails safer,
and a federal judge must appoint a receiver to get real change.
Outside the courthouse, advocates chanted “Shut down Rikers!” as they also continued their calls
for change at the complex. Following a crucial court hearing in Lower Manhattan, federal judge
Laura Taylor Swain is ordering the city, lawyers for Rikers detainees and federal prosecutors to
meet over the next 45 days to come up with a potential new leadership structure for Rikers
Island.
It’s unclear if she will move forward with approving a federal receiver, who could potentially
take over the operation of the facility.
In court, Swain criticized the fact that commissioners of the Department of Correction are
political appointees and change often, saying consistent leadership is needed.
“Every time that does happen, they have to learn the territory, make their mark and often try to
reset the clock in some way,” Swain said.
The order came after a highly anticipated court hearing on whether the city should be held in
contempt for continuing to violate multiple court orders aimed at making Rikers Island a safer
place. Lawyers for detainees argue the judge must install a federal receiver for Rikers to actually
improve.
“We will be sitting down and discussing with them as the court ordered us to talk about who
should be in leadership in the city jails. What qualification should such a person or people have?
What would the powers that are necessary for a leader [be] to have to bring change in the New
York City jails? We have set forth what we think is going to work in the orders we have given the
city and we look forward to hearing their ideas,” Mary Lynne Werlwas, director of the Prisoners’
Rights Project of The Legal Aid Society, said.
Lawyers for the city argued the Department of Correction has made improvements under the
leadership of its new commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. Even so, federal oversight of
Rikers has been in place for nine years and violence there persists.
“What is happening now is expected, it was expected years ago. How can I ignore what’s
happened in the past, and the real danger that people in custody and staff are exposed to?” Swain asked the city.
The DOC commissioner was in court listening to these arguments, but she did not address the
press or take questions following the hearing.
