What's happening
This bill requires New York City to close the Rikers Island correctional facility by July 1, 2022, and use alternative facilities.
Why it matters
Mandates a specific deadline for Rikers’ closure. , which puts legal and political pressure on New York City officials to act and prevents indefinite delays that have historically stalled reform.
Requires the development or adaptation of alternative correctional facilities. , which could significantly shift how and where people are incarcerated in NYC, possibly impacting neighborhoods, local infrastructure, and correctional practices.
Signals a major policy shift in response to longstanding concerns about Rikers Island. , including documented issues of violence, neglect, and civil rights violations, indicating a move toward potentially more humane or reform-oriented correctional strategies.
Includes a sunset clause (automatic repeal). , which means that the law—and the mandate to close Rikers—will expire at the end of 2022, emphasizing the urgency and temporary nature of the legislative action.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Close Rikers in Three Years
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
267
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island correctional facility; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the correction law or any other provision of law to the contrary, the city of New York shall, on or before July 1, 2022 close the Rikers Island correctional facility, provided, that prior to such closure, the city of New York shall establish other facilities and/or utilize other existing facilities to be operated as local correctional facilities for the city of New York.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2022 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01753-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island correctional facili- ty; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon expiration ther- eof
Purpose
This bill would mandate the closure of Rikers Island Correctional Facil- ities.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 mandates that the City of New York shall close Rikers Island Correctional Facility by July 1, 2022.
Existing law
None.
Justification
Rikers Island has become a symbol of the worst aspects of New York's criminal justice system. On any given day, three-quarters of the people housed on Rikers Island are awaiting trial because they could not make bail; 90% of people housed there are people of color. In 2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York found that there is a "deep-seated culture of violence" at Rikers, between inmates and between staff and inmates.
In April 2017, the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform, headed by former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, concluded that closing Rikers Island is "an essential step toward building a more just New York City." The report recommended clos- ing Rikers and housing its inmates at local jails throughout New York City. This would also result in cost savings, as the City currently spends $31 million per year transporting people from Rikers to court- houses throughout New York City. This bill would enact the most press- ing change recommended by the Commission, and would require the closing of Rikers by July 1, 2020.
The bill would also require that people awaiting trial and serving misdemeanor sentences be housed in facilities throughout New York City closer to their attorneys, communities, and courthouses. This legis- lation would represent a first step towards meaningful criminal justice reform in New York City and across the State.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.6747A
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Local fiscal implications
TBD
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2022 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.