By Bill Parry
The city and the U.S. Justice Department agreed Monday on a package of comprehensive reforms at Rikers Island. The deal includes the appointment of a federal monitor, new policies restricting the use of force by guards and the installation of 7,800 surveillance cameras and a pilot program for body cameras on correction officers.
“Today’s settlement builds upon the important changes this administration is bringing to our correctional system and reinforces the necessity of Commissioner (Joseph) Ponte’s current reforms on Rikers Island,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The deal comes after months of negotiations after Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara joined a class-action lawsuit in December.
“This comprehensive framework requires the city to implement sweeping operational changes to fix a broken system and dismantle a decades-long culture of violence,” Bharara said. “It’s ongoing implementation will be overseen by the court and an independent federal monitor. Federal prosecutors will remain vigilant to ensure that the constitution protects each person within the walls of Rikers Island.”
—Bill Parry
