### Judge Finds NYC in Contempt Over Rikers Island, Paves Way for Federal Control

A significant judicial ruling on Wednesday has brought New York City closer to a federal takeover of Rikers Island, highlighting longstanding issues of violence and neglect in one of the nation's most infamous jail complexes. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain ruled in Manhattan that the city had placed inmates in "unconstitutional danger" by violating 18 provisions related to security, staffing, supervision, use of force, and the safety of younger detainees.

Judge Swain's decision underscores the exacerbation of already squalid conditions since the city settled claims of abuse and violence nine years ago. The judge criticized the leadership at Rikers for their "unwillingness or inability" to enforce necessary reforms. Consequently, Swain ordered a consultation between the city, the plaintiffs, and a court-appointed monitor to propose a framework for a federal receivership, marking a potential handover of control from the city to the federal court system.

Mayor Eric Adams, who has opposed the idea of federal intervention, argued that the city had made "significant progress" in addressing the perennial issues at Rikers. Nevertheless, Swain cited the administration's efforts as insufficient for meaningful change, pointing out that city officials often acted in bad faith by withholding key information from the monitor.

Swain’s 65-page ruling originated from over a decade of litigation brought forth by the Legal Aid Society and law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, who praised the ruling as a historic step towards genuine reform. They expressed hope that a federal receivership, free from political influences, would ensure the humane treatment of all detainees.

Conversely, Benny Boscio, president of the union representing correction officers, contended that the ruling was based on a false narrative and blamed the city lawmakers and the federal monitor for defunding and short-staffing jail personnel.

Despite the ruling, New York City retains control over its jails for the time being. Persistent issues such as high rates of violence, use of force, and in-custody deaths were noted to have worsened since the 2015 settlement and the appointment of a federal monitor. In 2022 alone, 19 people died at Rikers, with nine more deaths occurring in 2023 and five deaths reported in the first eight months of the current year. This period has also seen “extraordinarily high” incidences of stabbings, slashings, and assaults on staff.

The city's 2019 plan to close Rikers Island by 2027 in favor of four smaller, modern jails has faced increasing skepticism due to a growing inmate population. Mayor Adams has suggested the need for an alternative plan, noting the city's likely inability to meet the closure deadline.

For now, the future of Rikers Island hangs in the balance as stakeholders await the next steps in what could be one of the most significant federal interventions in the history of U.S. jail systems.