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NYC Council Presses Mayor Over Rikers Closure Delays in Heated Hearing

Lawmakers criticized the Adams administration's lack of urgency in meeting the 2027 deadline and proposed new measures to accelerate the transition to borough-based jails.

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Protesters demonstrate in support of closing Rikers Island in Manhattan on Aug. 10, 2023..

Overview

  • The City Council held a hearing on April 16, 2025, to address persistent delays in closing Rikers Island and building four borough-based jails by the mandated 2027 deadline.
  • Former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and other experts criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for a lack of urgency and called for a dedicated 'closure czar' to oversee the plan.
  • Lawmakers introduced bills to expedite the transition, including proposals to expand early release programs, improve detainee services, and enhance oversight of the closure process.
  • Over 7,200 people remain incarcerated in NYC jails, far exceeding the planned 4,500 capacity of the new facilities, with Rikers serving as the nation’s second-largest psychiatric facility.
  • The Council also filed a lawsuit against the mayor’s executive order allowing federal law enforcement offices on Rikers Island, citing concerns over the facility's intended purpose.