Rikers Island Takeover Plan Due Friday But Two Sides Are at Odds Over ‘Receiver’ Details
Last September, a federal judge overseeing the city’s troubled Department of Correction ordered jail officials to confer with lawyers for detainees to develop a plan for an “outside person” to operate the system.
The two sides — defendants and plaintiffs in the notorious “Nunez case” — have not been able to reach an agreement nearly four months later, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
“There has been no coming together of the minds,” said a person briefed on the situation.
On Friday, the two parties are expected to each file their own visions of what the so-called receiver would look like, the sources said.
Big Job
Last November, Laura Taylor Swain, the chief district judge for Manhattan federal court who is overseeing the Nunez case, said she was “inclined to impose a receivership.”
At the time, she ordered the two sides to submit a joint plan by Jan. 14. That deadline was later extended to Jan. 24.
Swain wanted both parties to agree on how much power the receiver will have, according to the decision.
She also ruled that the two sides must flesh out how long the receiver should remain in power and what the qualifications for that person should be.
Additionally, she found the DOC in contempt of court for failing to implement 18 long discussed reforms to curb violence on Rikers.
Who Could It Be?
After Swain’s November court ruling, the Adams’ administration began to push to move Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie as the possible receiver, the Daily News reported last month.
Meanwhile, some acclaimed reformers have said they are interested in the possible receiver role.
The list includes: Norman Siegel, a distinguished New York City civil rights lawyer; Dean Williams, a nationally recognized jail reformer who headed lockups in Alaska and Colorado; and Mark Cranston, a former acting commissioner of DOC, THE CITY reported in December.
What Happens Next?
The filings expected on Friday could be used as a roadmap for how the receiver works even if the two groups could not agree on how that happens, said Hernandez D. Stroud, a senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice who has studied other receiverships throughout the country.
“The North Star remains Constitutional compliance,” he said. “It is possible that the judge could rule on the motion to appoint a receiver based on the parties’ individual contributions as they see the next steps in the case.”
Conclusion
The fate of Rikers Island and the Department of Correction hangs in the balance as the two sides prepare to file their visions for a receiver. The outcome is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the status quo is no longer acceptable. It is time for a change.
FAQs
Q: What is a receiver?
A: A receiver is an outside person appointed by a court to take control of a troubled organization, in this case, the Department of Correction.
Q: Why is a receiver needed?
A: The Department of Correction has failed to implement reforms to curb violence on Rikers Island, leading to a federal judge ordering the appointment of a receiver.
Q: Who could be the receiver?
A: A number of individuals have expressed interest in the role, including Norman Siegel, Dean Williams, and Mark Cranston.
Q: What would the receiver do?
A: The receiver would have the power to make changes to the Department of Correction, including implementing reforms to reduce violence and improve conditions on Rikers Island.
