{"id":2972,"date":"2025-09-10T17:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T21:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=2972"},"modified":"2025-09-11T12:59:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T16:59:43","slug":"council-passes-bills-to-reduce-court-case-delays-require-dedicated-staff-for-rikers-closure-and-conduct-clinical-assessments-of-people-in-custody","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2025\/09\/10\/2972\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Passes Bills to Reduce Court Case Delays, Require Dedicated Staff for Rikers Closure, and Conduct Clinical Assessments of People in Custody"},"content":{"rendered":"

The legislation comes from recommendations put forward by the Independent Rikers Commission to advance the closure of Rikers Island<\/em><\/p>\n

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong> Today, the New York City Council voted to pass legislation that would provide technology for people in custody to review their case materials, require clinical assessments of people in custody upon request, and mandate the establishment of a mayoral office solely dedicated to the permanent closure of Rikers Island and transition to the borough based-jail system. Together, the bills passed by the Council today will advance the plan to close Rikers by reducing court case delays that have inflated the jail population, allowing the Mayor\u2019s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) to better understand the needs of people in custody and help them access appropriate programming, and improving the coordination between mayoral agencies and offices focused on the closure of Rikers. These legislative solutions were first recommended in the Independent Rikers Commission\u2019s The Blueprint to Close Rikers<\/em><\/a> and later identified<\/a> by the Council as steps that the City must immediately take.<\/p>\n

\u201cPermanently closing Rikers Island and ending the humanitarian crisis that endangers staff and detained people have been a top priority for this Council,\u201d said Speaker Adrienne Adams.<\/strong> \u201cThe continued deaths and horrific conditions in city jails underscore the urgency that city government must act. With the passage of today\u2019s bills, the Council is once again demonstrating our steadfast commitment to advance the closure of Rikers and improve the health and safety of all New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bills that were passed include:<\/p>\n

Introduction 1238-A<\/strong><\/a>, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez<\/strong>, would require the Department of Correction (DOC) to ensure all persons in custody with a pending criminal proceeding have the technology necessary to securely receive and review case evidence via a department-issued tablet or through access provided in the law library.<\/p>\n

Introduction 1240-A<\/strong><\/a>, sponsored by Council Member Rita Joseph<\/strong>, would require the Mayor\u2019s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), upon request of a person in custody or their attorney, to conduct a holistic needs assessment when one is required for acceptance into a court-based alternative to incarceration program. These clinical assessments will include information on a person\u2019s mental health, physical health, intellectual disabilities, history of trauma, and other psychosocial conditions or circumstances at the time of a person\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n

Introduction 1242-A<\/strong><\/a>, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse<\/strong>, would require the establishment of an Office of Coordinator for Rikers Island Closure with a full-time coordinator. This new office will be responsible for coordinating actions and policies by agencies with a role in the closure of Rikers Island, including those with duties related to jail population reduction, design and construction of the borough-based jails, design and construction of outposted therapeutic housing units, correctional workforce development, and planning for the future use of Rikers Island for environmental sustainability and resiliency purposes. This bill also requires the establishment of Coordinator for Borough-Based Jail Transition within DOC. <\/p>\n

This latest legislative action builds upon the Council\u2019s efforts that secured over<\/a> $50 million of expanded mental health and safety investments in the City\u2019s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget to create additional units of Justice-Involved Supportive Housing (JISH), expand mental health mobile treatment teams and establish step-down programs that reduce waitlists, and restore cuts to Alternatives to Incarceration and reentry programming. The Council also previously passed Introduction 1100-A, which would adjust the eligibility requirements for city-funded supportive housing to include time spent in incarceration as being homeless.<\/p>\n

\u201cForty five people have died in our city jails under Mayor Adams’ watch while his administration has made little progress to close Rikers,\u201d said Council Member Sandy Nurse, <\/strong>chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice. \u201cMy bill, Int. 1242-A, will finally establish an office solely focused on transitioning away from Rikers to the borough-based jails plan and create an interagency working group that consistently works towards that goal. Today\u2019s passage also moves us towards realizing the vision for a Renewable Rikers Island that will contribute to our city\u2019s environmental sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, people in custody are overlooked for the support they need to turn their lives around,\u201d said Council Member Rita Joseph. <\/strong>\u201cBy requiring holistic needs assessments, we ensure that individuals are seen as more than just their charges; they are people with health needs, histories of trauma, and unique circumstances that deserve to be recognized and supported. This legislation strengthens our court-based alternative to incarceration programs, breaks the cycle of harm, and creates real pathways to healing and rehabilitation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a step forward for fairness and due process in New York City,\u201d said Council Member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez<\/strong>. \u201cToo often, people in custody face immense barriers to accessing the evidence that will determine their future. Int. 1238 ensures every New Yorker \u2014 regardless of incarceration status \u2014 has the tools to fully participate in their own defense, while maintaining safety and security in our facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRikers hurts crime victims, public safety, and everyone working and incarcerated there,\u201d said Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge of the State of New York and chair of the Independent Rikers Commission<\/strong>. \u201cClosing it \u2013 as required by law \u2013 demands true leadership like that demonstrated by the City Council. The bills passed today, rooted in the Independent Rikers Commission\u2019s Blueprint to Close Rikers, will lock in the next Mayor\u2019s full attention on closing Rikers, get people with serious mental illness and addiction the treatment they need, and help stop criminal cases from dragging on. Just good, smart, common-sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

“No one suffering from mental health, substance use, and other behavioral health challenges should languish in jail while they wait to be assessed to get the help they need, said Courtney Bryan, Executive Director of the Center for Justice Innovation<\/strong>. “Alternative-to-Incarceration programs deliver vital support for New Yorkers in need and make our city safer. I commend Speaker Adams and Council Member Joseph for supporting this common sense bill that will help get countless New Yorkers on the path to recovery \u2014 and make our communities and families more safe.” <\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The legislation comes from recommendations put forward by the Independent Rikers Commission to advance the closure of Rikers Island<\/em><\/p>\n

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong> Today, the New York City Council voted to pass legislation that would provide technology for people in custody to review their case materials, require clinical assessments of people in custody upon request, and mandate the establishment of a mayoral office solely dedicated to the permanent closure of Rikers Island and transition to the borough based-jail system.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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