Statement Of U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton On Court-Ordered Reforms At Rikers Island

The Court's findings and appointment of a remediation manager are a welcomed and much needed milestone. Rikers is not working, for its over 7,000 people in custody, the correction officers and staff who work there, or the people of New York. The Constitutional rights of people in custody are not being protected. The Court's order provides the manager with broad authority, requires consultation and cooperation between the manager and the Commissioner of the Department of Correction, and, importantly, requires the development of a benchmarked plan for improvement and returning authority to the City. The women and men of the Southern District stand ready to work with the Court Monitor, the new manager, and the Commissioner to finally achieve sustainable and lasting reform of the City's jail system.