The protests came a day after New York Attorney General Letitia James visited the prison complex with district attorneys for the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
She says she was “deeply disturbed” by what she saw.
“I visited Rikers Island with District Attorney (Darcel) Clark, (Melinda) Katz and (Eric) Gonzalez, and I was deeply disturbed by what we saw,” she said. “Over the years, Rikers has been plagued by procrastination, neglect and violence, and it is clear that we have reached a breaking point. These conditions have resulted in an unprecedented and devastating number of deaths, and action is desperately needed. I I am examining all legal options in my office to deal with this dire situation immediately.”
James says his office is examining legal options to address the controversial prison sentence.
Related | Rikers Island officials ‘afraid to go back to work’ amid spike in violence
Separately, four members of Congress from New York called for the release of prisoners and the closure of Rikers, when another inmate died at the facility.
Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerry Nadler, Jamal Bowman and Nidia Velázquez called the prison situation “depressing and nothing short of a humanitarian crisis” in a letter Tuesday to New York Governor Cathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill Day. Blasio.
This demand has increased after the 11th death in Rikers Island this year. The city’s corrections department said an inmate died in prison on Sunday after he was told he was not feeling well and was taken to a hospital.
His death came on the heels of both Hochul and de Blasio announcing plans to try to improve conditions on Rikers Island, where troubles had long been brewing amid the pandemic.
Members said the prison had failed to provide basic services to inmates and protection against the spread of COVID-19, and that parliamentarians who visited the facility recently found conditions that were “for life”. Dangerous and frightening”. ”, said the members of the House. his letter.
Earlier, de Blasio announced that 100 NYPD police officers would relieve corrections officers currently working in the city’s courts, which would be used to address staffing shortages.
Employees will be assigned to the Eric M. Taylor Center in prison to expedite intake, which Meyer said should not take more than 24 hours.
Mayor de Blasio also announced that the city is suing the Correctional Officers’ Benevolent Association, the union that represents corrections officers, blaming it for the unsafe conditions at Rikers.
The city is demanding that the union stop condoning any mass absenteeism, work stoppages or slowdowns.
The number of correctional officers absent without leave has increased by more than 215% in the last two years.
Related | Protests held as New York City Council hears Rikers’ terms
Late last week, New York Governor Cathy Hochul signed the Less Is More Act and announced that 191 prisoners held for nonviolent technical parole violations would be released immediately.
The bill, which takes effect next March, removes reasons for putting behind bars minor violations by parolees, such as being late for an appointment or missing a curfew.
De Blasio said only prisoners who “do not pose an immediate threat” would be released, and in some cases, the city would have to go back through the courts to get them out.
New York City Department of Correction Commissioner Vincent Shiraldi praised the signing of the bill.
“I thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing the signing of this important law, which is a major step in ending the era of mass confinement, and its cousin, ‘collective supervision’,” he said. They said. “Ending non-criminal, technical parole violations is a civilized, humane thing to do and it will only enhance public safety by interrupting the incarceration cycle at a critical point when people are re-joining the community. I would implement aspects of the bill.” I wholeheartedly thank the Governor for his discretionary power, which we can avail immediately without waiting till March.”
However, Republicans in Albany were quick to speak out against it.
Senate GOP leader Rob Ort said Albany Democrats quadrupled their anti-criminal, anti-victim and anti-law policies by ordering hundreds of criminals to blanket free with their “less is more” legislation today. “Under one-party rule, violent crime is on the rise across the state. It started with the Democrats’ so-called “bail reform” in 2019 – and it will undoubtedly get worse with this new law signed today. Also New York once again Will then favor criminals over victims, perhaps the most sinister element is that this law was actually written by a convicted murderer. By signing this bill into law, the Albany Democrats are saying that “less is more.” That’s fewer criminals behind bars, and more victims as a result.”
The city is recruiting 600 new officers this fall, but the union says they have lost several officers to resignations and retirements in the past few months.
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