A federal judge has ordered an outside official to take over control of much of New York City's jail system after local officials failed to stem high rates of violence and long-standing dysfunction.

New York City will no longer fully control its jail system, including the long-troubled Rikers Island complex, after a federal judge found the city had failed to stem spiraling dysfunction and brutality against those in custody.

Instead, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an outside manager to “take all necessary steps” toward restoring order inside the jails and bringing the city into compliance with previous court orders.

The official, known as a “remediation manager,” will report directly to the court. While the city’s corrections commissioner will remain responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the jail system, the remediation manager will have broad powers to address long-standing safety problems, including authority over hiring and promotions, staff deployment and disciplinary action regarding the use of force.

  • Asafum@feddit.nl
    48·
    2 days ago

    With everything going on with detention centers and Trump’s drooling over the worst prisons I really thought this was another attempt by him to gain federal control of a bad prison, but “thankfully” it seems U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain was picked by Clinton so hopefully that means this is unrelated and actually ment to improve things.

    • Pheonixdown@lemm.ee
      19·
      2 days ago

      Did a quick check, didn’t see any news about a stroke, so we don’t have to worry about that at least.

    • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
      13·
      2 days ago

      The extraordinary intervention, outlined Tuesday by Swain in a 77-page order, comes nearly a decade after the city’s jail system was placed under federal oversight as part of a class-action lawsuit brought by detainees.

      This predates even Trump’s first term, so I doubt that he has much to do with it.

  • Maeve@kbin.earth
    7·
    2 days ago

    At a press conference Tuesday, Adams said the city would follow the judge’s order, while also suggesting the appointment of an outside manager was not necessary. “Remediation manager? I don’t know the definition of that,” he said. “We have this oversight and that oversight. How much oversight are you going to do before you realize there are systemic problems?”

    He’s laying the groundwork for removal and prosecution. Not sure what the prosecution will do, if anything.

    Benny Boscio, the president of the union that represents correction officers, said the union was willing to work with the outside manager, but it would maintain “our fierce advocacy for the preservation of our members’ employment rights and improving their working conditions.”

    So is he.