ALBANY — The situations at Rikers Island have gotten so bad that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an govt order allowing digital courtroom hearings to be performed on the jail, as an alternative of risking transporting prisoners.
Hochul stepped in a number of weeks in the past by greenlighting legislation allowing the switch of over 100 inmates from city-run Rikers to state-run amenities, geared toward creating more room inside the 6000-person lock-up going through reports of escalated violence, deteriorating residing situations and extreme staffing shortages.
A federal monitor declared the jail system is in a “state of emergency” final Friday.
“When I signed the Less is More Act into law ten days ago, it was the beginning, not the end, of my administration’s work to help find solutions to the crisis on Rikers Island,” stated Hochul in an announcement.
Earlier this month, Hochul signed a invoice into legislation permitting the early release of individuals
Though the brand new legislation doesn’t take impact till early 2022, the governor stated the expedited transfer was obligatory to assist alleviate overcrowding points.
“Improving safety and justice at Rikers is about protecting human rights and human dignity. No incarcerated person, no corrections officer, and no family member should have to endure the reality of Rikers as it exists today, and we must do everything in our power to prevent New Yorkers from languishing in Rikers awaiting their day in court,” she stated.
The governor’s workplace stated Tuesday up to now, 125 people have been transferred from Rikers to state-run prisons.
