By NYCLU
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
NEW YORK, NY – Following years of constitutional violations at Rikers Island, a federal judge in Nunez v. City of New York ruled in favor of establishing an independent, remediation manager to oversee operations at the facility. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement, attributable to Interim Legal Director Molly Biklen:
“Today’s decision marks a significant victory in the long, overdue saga to end the abuse, lawlessness, and violence that define Rikers Island.
“Kalief Browder (shown above), Layleen Polanco, and far too many others have died or suffered irreversible physical and psychological harm as a result of the horrific conditions at Rikers. Every second people are trapped at Rikers, fresh horrors come to light. The atrocities cannot continue — and this is a much needed step toward addressing over a decade of dysfunction.
“After far too much secrecy under the Adams administration, New Yorkers must be able to stay informed about what’s happening at one of the deadliest jails in the country. Once the remediation manager is appointed and begins their work, transparency must be a top priority.
“Though appointing an independent remediation manager is a necessary step towards accountability and bringing Rikers’ deadly conditions to an end, decarceration and permanent closure must remain the ultimate goal. The city must fulfill its legal mandate to close Rikers once and for all.”
For more detail on this case, please see NYCLU’s amicus brief here.
