**PRESS RELEASE**
May 14, 2025
Contact: Yonah Zeitz | 347-201-2768 | yonah@katalcenter.org
Follow online: #ShutRikers #CutShutInvestNY | @katalcenter | shutrikers.org
Community Groups, Elected Officials, and Directly Impacted People Hail Decision of Federal Courts to Take Control of Rikers to Address Violence and Dysfunction
With the Rising Jail Population and Nearly 40 Deaths Since Adams Took Office, Courts Must Work to Save Lives and Advance the Closure of Rikers Island
New York, NY—Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain issued a decision to take Rikers Island out of the city’s control and appoint an independent “remediation manager” to address the constitutional violations. This follows years of the court holding the Adams administration in contempt of court for violating the rights of incarcerated people, removing avenues of transparency, and failing to address the dangerous conditions at Rikers. The “remediation manager” will have powers commensurate with a receiver and will report only to the judge. In rejecting the city’s proposal to appoint the current commissioner as a ‘compliance director’, the judge specified that the receiver must be completely independent from City Hall and the Department of Correction.
Since Mayor Eric Adams took office, the overlapping crises and scandals on Rikers Island have worsened. With violence out of control and the jail population steadily rising, dysfunction continues to reign at the New York City Department of Correction (DOC). In her ruling issued yesterday, Judge Swain wrote, “The use of force rate and other rates of violence, self-harm, and deaths in custody are demonstrably worse than when the Consent Judgement went into effect in 2015.” Nearly 40 people have died in city custody under Mayor Adams. Instead of working to address the crisis at Rikers, recently, news broke that the mayor is “exploring abandoning current plan to shut down Rikers Island.”
The fight to shut Rikers has been ongoing for decades. Starting more than two years ago, community groups and directly impacted New Yorkers started ratcheting up demands for the federal courts to intervene. Today, over 100 community groups and people directly impacted by Rikers have come together to demand that the federal courts appoint an independent receiver to improve conditions at Rikers until it is shut down.
Many of the city and state’s elected leaders have also been calling for a federal receiver at Rikers, including New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the city’s Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, over 20 City Council members, and more than two dozen state legislators. In February, under pressure from community groups, the City Council filed a letter to Judge Swain requesting that if a receiver is appointed, their goals must align with and further advance the legally mandated closure of Rikers.
Until Rikers is shut down, the “Remediation Manager” must work expeditiously to reduce violence, save lives, and advance closure efforts.
Statements from elected officials, impacted people, and community and advocacy groups:
Danielle Lynn Shanks-Efuntosin, Member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “My son, who is currently incarcerated at Rikers Island and has had to endure many of the horrific conditions found there, is relieved by Judge Swain’s decision to appoint an independent remediation manager to take control of Rikers Island. My son is relieved that there will be change and accountability. Mayor Adams, since day one, has shown our community that he simply does not care about the safety of our incarcerated loved ones and has been working to keep Rikers open. It was about time that Judge Swain made this decision. I am grateful that with the support of the Katal Center and our willpower to never give up, we have been able to get this big victory for the community. We hope that the independent remediation manager will urgently address the crisis at Rikers and be accountable for shutting it down once and for all.”
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, said: “Appointing an independent remediation manager is a serious indictment of the decades of mismanagement at Rikers. As the first citywide elected official to call for a federal receiver, Judge Swain made the necessary decision to appoint a manager who can turn around the deplorable conditions where a hundred people detained have died awaiting trial in the last decade. A remediation manager or federal receiver will not magically fix all of the jail complex’s problems, but the current system is too mired in its own mayhem to be fixed by any one Mayor or administration and must be reformed for the basic safety and security for incarcerated people and staff.”
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, said: “The most clear truth on Rikers is that what we have been doing has not worked. The conditions at Rikers have grown more dire and deadly for years, on both sides of the bars. It is past time to do something different, and as I highlighted in my inspection last week, the mayor has steadfastly ignored laws meant to improve conditions there. Now, it will be out of his control and under outside management. This is a critical moment, but a cautious one. I look forward to the appointment of this official, and toward working with them to improve our city’s public safety and pursuit of justice.”
Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, said: “Rikers is a death trap, and it is not fit to house people. As the years wear on without its closure, this only becomes more true, not less. We must act as if the jail poses a life-threatening risk to all people who are housed there because we have ample evidence that it does. It is welcome news that the jail will finally be under receivership, but we know this is just a first step. The jail must be closed, as is required by law and moral decency.”
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, said: “The numerous times I have visited Rikers confirms to me that we must close this jail. Rikers is full of people struggling with mental health emergencies and the pains of poverty- many of these folks need resources, not jail time. The conditions at Rikers continue to get worse, with countless deaths, missed trial dates, and missed medical appointments showing an inability to properly care for our incarcerated population. We must close Rikers and the independent receiver must work to swiftly reduce violence and improve conditions.”
Council Member Sandy Nurse, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Criminal Justice, said: “We must put an end to the ongoing loss of life at Rikers Island. Judge Swain’s decision to appoint an independent Remediation Manager is a critical step toward accountability and reform. Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we’ve witnessed continued violations of human rights, dignity, and safety for those in our city’s custody and the workers. I look forward to collaborating with the new appointee to advance the long-overdue closure of Rikers and move forward with the borough-based jail system.”
Council Member Alexa Avilés, said: “The inhumane conditions of Rikers Island have repeatedly threatened the health, safety, and well-being of staff, detainees, and thousands of New York City families. Since Mayor Adams took office, almost 40 people have died within our city’s jail. This should be considered nothing short of a human rights emergency. The decision to appoint an independent receiver is a crucial one, but it must lead to the imminent closure of Rikers Island to not only comply with the law but also in alignment with the unanimous decision of the Lippman Commission. The Adams administration needs to stop undermining the law, the commission’s mandate, and putting New Yorkers in harm’s way.”
Council Member Shekar Krishnan, said: “This historic decision was decades in the making and thanks to incarcerated individuals sounding the alarm bells about horrifying mistreatment on Rikers Island. Appointing a receiver for Rikers Island is just one step in the many that need to happen to end the brutal violence on Rikers Island and ensure the complex is closed as city law requires. Judge Laura Taylor Swain’s ruling is yet another clear sign that the Adams administration has been unwilling and unable to protect the constitutional rights of human beings who are enduring inhumane conditions while incarcerated there.”
Council Member Crystal Hudson, said: “Our City has a moral and legal obligation to close Rikers Island, and the Administration’s failure to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at Rikers is made clear by Judge Swain’s recent decision to appoint an independent receiver to confront the facility’s abhorrent conditions. The Department of Correction has taken no meaningful steps to show it is capable or willing to manage the jail in a way that meets even the most basic standards of human rights. Mayor Adams has made it clear he no longer views the closure of this torturous facility as a priority—and as a result, 38 people have died in custody under his administration. The federal court’s decision marks the beginning of putting an end to these egregious human rights violations and, finally, closing Rikers Island.”
Council Member Shahana Hanif, said: “The Adams Administration has proven incapable of mitigating harm or complying with legal mandates to improve conditions at Rikers, resulting in the deaths of 38 people on Rikers Island since he took office. I applaud this urgently needed decision to remove Rikers Island from the Adams Administration’s authority and appoint a Remediation Manager. I look forward to the Remediation Manager acting swiftly to meet the legal mandate to close Rikers, for the safety and dignity of all New Yorkers.”
Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, Executive Director of CIDNY, said: “The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) is pleased that Rikers Island has been approved for federal receivership. People with disabilities live on Rikers Island and some of them are not receiving their disability-related accommodations. These accommodations are life-saving and can further assist the person with addressing his/her legal issue while living at Rikers Island. CIDNY has been involved in this fight with other advocates for almost four years, and this action further demonstrates that true advocacy really works,” said Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, Executive Director of CIDNY.
Khary Lazarre-White, Executive Director & Co-Founder of The Brotherhood Sister Sol, said: “For too long, Rikers Island has been a stain on the City of New York. It has been a bastion of corruption, violence, brutality and death. It is such welcomed news that it will now be under independent receivership.”
Danielle Minelli Pagnotta, Executive Director of Providence House, said: “Providence House applauds the recent decision on the receivership of Rikers Island. For too long, there has been a lack of meaningful action and accountability from the current administration, despite the clear demand from our communities to close this notorious site. While this announcement presents uncertainties, receivership offers a critical opportunity to reignite momentum to permanently shut down Rikers, and create safer, more just alternatives. This is especially important for the women detained there, who face unique vulnerabilities and cycles of trauma.”
Michael McQuillan, Member of the Social Justice Committee at the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, said: “Judge Swain’s ruling affirms that human decency does not end behind the barbed wire barricades on Rikers Island. Nor is there a license to shame, harm or kill those inside. We laud her decision as we pray for the wellbeing of those who languish inside for years to obtain their day in court. We honor the organizers, rally goers, door knockers, phone callers, forum and hearing speakers and writers of the Katal Center’s Shut Rikers Campaign.”
Jordyn Rosenthal, Director of Advocacy at Community Access, said: “After many years of NYC’s failure to mitigate the brutality and moral failures at Rikers, the move to federal receivership presents a chance for improvement. Community Access hopes this change in oversight will help decriminalize mental illness and support a mental health system grounded in care and dignity.”
King Downing, Program Director NY/NJ, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): “Congratulations to the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, lawyers and advocacy/community organizations who stayed on the case and made this happen. After a decade of contempt and failure to make meaningful change, this is the only result that could happen. We call on all to stay vigilant and monitor the selection process, findings and changes.”
Barbara Bierd, the Policy & Organizing Associate at the Center for Employment Opportunities, said: “This receivership marks a significant victory for New Yorkers—and most importantly, for those directly impacted by the decades of horror on Rikers Island. We are grateful to and honored to stand alongside the advocates who fought tirelessly to make this moment possible. Now, we must remain vigilant to ensure that the independent receiver upholds the city’s mandate to close Rikers Island once and for all.”
Amelia Scdoris, Community Organizer at the Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC, Inc., said: “CIS-NYC is glad to see the court’s decision to appoint a federal receiver at Rikers. Our immigrant community has faced violence, neglect, and prolonged detention there for years, often for nothing more than a police stop. Rikers has always targeted Black, brown, and immigrant New Yorkers. We hope to see the receiver stay accountable to the legal mandate to close Rikers for good.”
Robin Lawrence, Member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “Words certainly cannot describe the nightmare that is Rikers Island. We all know someone who has been held there, and we have certainly heard their stories. We have been fighting for years to hold Mayor Eric Adams accountable for addressing the ongoing crisis at Rikers and shutting it down. Unfortunately, he has chosen to do nothing. That is precisely because of this crisis and inaction, we have been fighting for the federal courts to intervene to ensure the safety of our incarcerated loved ones, to ensure that their rights are not being violated, and to ensure the safety of the staff. I am grateful that Federal Judge Swain has ruled in favor of addressing the conditions at Rikers. We need better transparency and accountability.
Bobbie Finkelstein, The Dismantling Racism Team of Congregation Beth Elohim, said: “As Jews who believe that every person is created in the image of God, we are grateful to see the federal court take the necessary and long overdue step to appoint an independent receiver to improve conditions and save lives at Rikers Island. Rikers Island is a dangerous facility; its deteriorating and unsafe conditions have gone on for years. Our hope is that the receiver will implement change and at the same time work towards closing Rikers which has been legally mandated by the city.”
Albert Fox Cahn, Executive Director at Surveillance Technology Oversight Project: “New Yorkers have endured Riker Island’s lawless violence for far too long, and this is a major victory for every person who spoke up to demand that our city do better. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to see the courts defending basic civil rights and the rule of law. No New Yorker should face the fear that they will be held in these hellish conditions, their life endangered daily, simply because they’re waiting for their day in court. Right now, the American people are questioning” what due process means in a democracy, but New York City has fallen short of that mark for years, and now we need a truly independent receiver who can ensure we do better.”
Glory Gibson, Member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “I was very happy to hear about Judge Swain’s decision to appoint an independent receiver. My brother has been incarcerated on Rikers for a long time, and I am constantly worrying about his well-being. Adams cut funding for programs and GED classes on Rikers over a year ago, giving those being held there nothing to do, as well as making visitations more difficult. It is been frustrating not knowing what is going on inside, because keeping communication with him has been difficult. The Mayor has failed to address the ongoing crisis at Rikers. Appointing a Remediation Manager is a necessary and last resort step to addressing this crisis. They must move swiftly to improve conditions and should be bound to the city’s legal mandate to shut Rikers.”
Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director at A.J. Muste Memorial Institute: “Rikers Island has long stood as a monument to cruelty and unchecked abuse. The federal court’s decision to appoint an independent receiver affirms what communities have known for years: the City’s failure to protect the rights and dignity of those incarcerated is both a moral outrage and a constitutional violation. The A.J. Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice commends the grassroots organizers, impacted individuals, and legal advocates whose tireless efforts have brought us one step closer to permanently shutting down Rikers.”
Melanie Domingue, Organizing Director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “For decades, New Yorkers, including our members, have experienced the dangerous and deadly conditions at Rikers. Instead of following the law to shutter Rikers by 2027, Mayor Adams has worked to keep Rikers open and send more New Yorkers there. And during his administration, conditions at Rikers have worsened. Nearly 40 people have died since Adams took office. The conditions are so severe that now, a federal judge has taken the drastic step of taking control of Rikers.
This is the right move. As the situation at Rikers has worsened, Katal and our allies have organized across the city and rallied in front of the courts for over two years to demand intervention at Rikers. We applaud yesterday’s court’s decision today and thank the Legal Aid Society for its persistent work in the courtroom to secure this victory.
The remediation manager must move swiftly and should be bound to the city’s legal mandate to shut Rikers. Anything less is unacceptable.”
About the campaign: #ShutRikers is a campaign of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. Katal and our allies are working to cut the number of people incarcerated and the budgets used for caging people; shut down Rikers Island; and invest in real public safety: housing, health care, education, and jobs.
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