The Independent Rikers Commission has released a comprehensive report outlining a substantial plan for the closure of Rikers Island by August 2027. The report details severe issues including high operational costs, extreme violence, and neglect within the facility, which has resulted in numerous deaths since 2020. Identified as a humanitarian crisis, the report stresses the necessity for reforms, including reducing inmate numbers, improving mental health resources, and constructing borough-based jails. Jonathan Lippman, the Commission's chair, describes Rikers as a failure, stressing the urgent need for actionable change to safeguard inmates and staff.
The report underscores a critical need for reform at Rikers, highlighting severe conditions that have turned the jail into a humanitarian crisis urgent for immediate action.
Jonathan Lippman, chair of the commission, stated that Rikers has long been marked by neglect, making it a failure in terms of prioritizing safety for all.
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