By Jacob Kaye, October 5, 2023 

“After having been accused by judges, advocates, lawmakers, oversight agencies, attorneys and others of failing to be transparent about what happens on Rikers Island, the Department of Correction may be legally required to open its records, video recordings and more to an oversight board should two bills set to be introduced in the City Council on Thursday pass into law.

The two bills set to be introduced in the city’s legislative body this week both revolve around codifying the powers of the Board of Correction, the civilian oversight body charged with keeping tabs on the Department of Correction and the city’s jails.

City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who chairs the council’s Committee on Criminal Justice, is expected to introduce a bill that would grant the Board of Correction unfettered access to DOC records, documents, logs and other papers or digital files.

City Councilmember Keith Powers, who formerly chaired the Committee on Criminal Justice, will introduce a similar piece of legislation – the bill will require the BOC be given access to camera footage captured by body-worn cameras attached to correction officers’ uniforms.”

Read more: https://queenseagle.com/all/2023/10/5/council-to-introduce-rikers-transparency-bills