FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13th, 2025
CONTACT: Emma Johnson
ejohnson@council.nyc.gov 
347-864-4925

Council Member Keith Powers Statement on Federal Receivership of Rikers 

Council Member Keith Powers released the following statement following the decision by a federal judge to place Rikers Island under the control of a remediation manager:

“For years, Rikers Island has been in a state of emergency. Inmates are forced to live in inhumane conditions, without proper nutrition or medical care, and the situation has become so dire that there has been a steady stream of deaths at the jail – over 100 in the last decade. 

“As one of the first elected officials to call for receivership of Rikers Island, I am relieved that Judge Swain has ordered this change today. The decision to place the jail under the supervision of a remediation manager is a crucial step in the right direction.

“I urge the judge to do everything within her power to ensure that the official who will take control of the jail is able to complete their work to the best of their ability, without the interference of either the Trump or Adams administrations. It is critical that after the long journey it took to get us here, that we do this right.”

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