Court rulings or settlements reported in legal documents or news

Federal Judge Finds NYC in Contempt Over Rikers Island Conditions, Citing Use-of-Force Issues and Grave Danger

Nov 27, 2024, 05:38 PM

A federal judge, Laura Taylor Swain, has found New York City and its Department of Correction in contempt of court for failing to address violence, unsafe conditions, and use-of-force issues at Rikers Island. The judge cited the city's inability to comply with court mandates and improve the 'grave and immediate danger' faced by inmates and staff, describing the situation as an 'unconstitutional danger.' The decision follows years of dysfunction, violence, and disregard for court orders at the jail complex. Judge Swain indicated that she is inclined to impose federal receivership, which would transfer control of Rikers Island from the city to a third party. The court has ordered all parties to outline a plan for receivership by mid-January. The judge also criticized the 'glacial pace of reform,' marking a significant step toward federal oversight of Rikers Island, a facility long criticized for its dangerous conditions and management failures.