New York City is taking a series of steps to address numerous problems at the Rikers Island jail complex. Correction officers will now need a note from the doctor when calling out sick more than one day following a wave of sick outs. NYPD officers will now staff court rooms, freeing up Correction officers to boost staffing levels at Rikers. The city is also hiring contractors to make repairs and the city will speed up the inmate intake process to reduce overcrowding. Mayor de Blasio calls this an emergency plan.
“Everything goes back to the problem of Rikers Island itself. We need to get the hell out of their as quickly as possible but in the mean time we have immense challenges.”
Rikers Island is set to close in six years and in place will be smaller jails.