Rikers Remains 'Potentially Life-Threatening,' Federal Monitor Says

NEW YORK CITY — City jail conditions remain dangerous despite months of recents efforts to combat "a humanitarian crisis" on Rikers Island, according to new federal monitor report.

Overseers of Rikers Island and the Correction department outlined a complex crisis they do not expect to be soon solved, despite "potentially life-threatening" consequences for city jail detainees, Federal Monitor Steve J. Martin wrote in Tuesday's 30-page report.

"The conditions in the jails continue to be of grave concern," Martin wrote. "The current state of affairs in the jails presents an unprecedented challenge and, as such, there is no fail-safe path forward."

The Correction department for months has been plagued by staff shortages — triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant vaccine mandate — that has overwhelmed courts and left detainees without means to attend medical visits or court appearances.

The federal monitor acknowledged new commissioner Louis Molina made progress streamlining bureaucracy and infrastructural repairs, but Martin warned the situation remains dire enough to require immediate action.

The report includes an action plan that demands the Correction department resolve backlogged disciplinary cases by June 30, launch a recruitment campaign to bring in new staff and amp up security for detainees who pose a high risk of violence.

"The City and Department will undoubtedly face obstacles when undertaking to implement this Action Plan," Martin wrote.

"But from the Monitoring Team’s perspective, none of these obstacles are insurmountable if the City and the Department approaches them with the courage to meet each obstacle creatively, aggressively, and with the requisite perseverance."

Mayor Eric Adams thanked the monitor for its contribution and for acknowledging the recent decreases in assaults on staff members and daily absenteeism, which spiked to about 2,500 in December and has since dropped to approximately 1,100.

"We appreciate the monitor's partnership and recognition of the important work to build safer jails," Adams said. "We know that there is much more difficult work to be done, and the city is committed to doing it.”

But the Legal Aid Society was quick to point out Tuesday the report dropped the same day a Bronx Supreme Court Judge held the Correction Department in contempt over its handling of medical visits.

“As today's state court decision holding the Department of Correction in contempt of court makes clear, this Administration's inability to staff and manage its jails puts lives in danger every single day," Legal Aid said in a statement.

"We have yet to see the swift, decisive action necessary to abate this harm, and the promises made today in federal court in Nunez are not action.”

The action plan comes a month after U.S. Attorney Damian Williams threatened a federal takeover if the Correction department didn't take immediate action.