AS NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION RETURNS TO COURT IN RIKERS CASE, FORMERLY INCARCERATED LEADERS AND ALLIES DEMAND ACTION TO ADDRESS THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT RIKERS ISLAND

City officials will appear again in federal court today, seeking approval of their proposed Action Plan to address the crisis on Rikers. In today's appearance, the city is hoping to stave off federal receivership. The hearing comes after New York witnessed three deaths in DOC custody last month, and six deaths so far this year. In response, members of the Campaign to Close Rikers issued the following statements.

Darren Mack, Co-Director of Freedom Agenda said “In the first months of his administration, we’ve seen the Mayor supporting COBA’s absurd demand for more staff. This approach was tried and failed by the previous administration. If he wants to avoid receivership, he’ll have to dismantle the safe haven that DOC has become for people who want to abuse their power and privileges, and do everything in his power to reduce the number of people kept in the hellish conditions on Rikers.”

"This hearing comes as the City is in the middle of budget negotiations. Using this next budget to truly address the root causes of incarceration will make our communities safe, and help the City to avoid receivership by reducing the number of people in the custody of the Department of Correction. The Nunez case is a reminder that it is time to close Rikers and fund solutions to scale," said Kandra Clark, Vice President of Exodus Transitional Community.

"The need to drastically reduce the number of New Yorkers incarcerated on Rikers Island is beyond urgent - not only to avoid federal receivership but to ultimately make good on the promise to close Rikers once and for all. The City has a prime opportunity right now as it finalizes the budget to ensure adequate funding is allotted to facilitate such decarceration efforts and ensure all New Yorkers can access the resources and services they need to thrive in their communities and avoid entanglement with the criminal legal system,” said Tracie Gardner, Senior Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the Legal Action Center.

Sharon White-Harrigan, Executive Director of the Women's Community Justice Association, said “This month marks 3 years since the death of Layleen Polanco at Rosie's on Rikers, and last month Mary Yehudah died in DOC custody. Rosie's is a deadly place for women and gender expansive people, most of whom can be diverted back to our communities. The city should show they are serious about addressing the crisis on Rikers by taking a key first step - immediately securing the Lincoln Correctional Center to transform it into a Women's Center for Justice for the small group that remains."

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