Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: We can’t give up on closing Rikers

The city can still close the jail by 2027 if it invests in alternatives to incarceration and supportive housing.

New York City

Politics

Urgency to improve Rikers conditions grows as inmate hunger strike enters Day 6

Advocates on Thursday demanded Mayor Eric Adams step in to improve conditions at a rally outside the jail complex.

Rikers Island

Opinion

Don’t leave people to die from COVID-19 on Rikers Island

The conditions are crowded and unsanitary and the spread inside will eventually get outside.

New York City

Opinion

Rikers Island should get green infrastructure

When Rikers Island closes, use the land to fight climate change, pollution and environmental injustice.

New York City

Personality

Rafael Salamanca on his biggest land use issues

New York City Councilman Rafael Salamanca talks Amazon, homelessness and jails.

Rikers Island

Policy

Akeem Browder, brother of Kalief, disappointed in de Blasio’s bail response

Akeem Browder, brother of Kalief Browder, criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio’s lukewarm response to a foundation plan to bail out women and minors in New York City.

New York City

Policy

The elected officials opposing the four new jails to replace Rikers

New York City has proposed to build four new jails to replace Rikers in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

New York City

Policy

Rikers inmates debate policies including pretrial detention

Rikers Island inmates debate program might help incarcerated people re-enter society.

New York City

Policy

Lippman Commission calls for expanding supervised release

Bail reform stalled in the state Legislature this year despite a push from the grassroots to the governor, but the Lippman criminal justice commission is releasing a report saying that New York City doesn’t have to wait until next year to keep more New Yorkers out of jail.

New York City

Opinion

Why New York should eliminate cash bail for smaller crimes

Race, wealth and geography should not determine whether someone is free or locked up.

Rikers Island

Policy

Where people are locked up around NYC

Where people are locked up around New York City. Spoiler alert: Jails are already in your backyard.

Rikers Island

Policy

Nine years to go? Panelists clash over closing Rikers

At a "Is closing Rikers Island a dream or a reality?" forum sponsored by City & State and the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, players on all sides of the nuanced debate gave their thoughts on closing the jail.

Rikers Island

Opinion

Close Rikers sooner by reforming parole

Minor parole violations shouldn't automatically trigger jail time.