On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Southern District of New York Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted a motion brought by ECBAWM and the Legal Aid Society’s Prisoners’ Rights Project to find the City of New York in contempt for its failures to comply with court orders designed to prevent violence against incarcerated people in the City’s jails including Rikers Island. In her opinion, Judge Swain stated that for almost a decade, the City of New York has made “half-hearted” and “inconsistent” efforts to remedy the unconstitutional levels of violence in its jails.

The Court has instructed the parties to outline a plan for federal receivership of New York City’s jails by January 14, 2025. This marks a major victory for Plaintiffs and marks a step forward towards keeping individuals housed in the City’s jails safe from harm and violence.

The plaintiffs in this action are represented by ECBAWM attorneys Jonathan Abady, Debbie Greenberger, Katie Rosenfeld, Vasudha Talla and Sana Mayat, and paralegals, Carlos Martinez-Montes, Lyra Straley, and Toby Shore.

Press: 

“Judge Finds City in Contempt and Is ‘Inclined’ to Take Control of Rikers,” The New York Times

“Rikers Faces Federal Takeover As NYC Held In Contempt,” Law 360.

“Judge finds New York City in contempt over jail conditions, moves closer to a federal takeover,” Associated Press

“Judge “inclined” to strip City control of Rikers Island,” Queens Eagle.

“NYC found in contempt over ‘grave’ conditions at Rikers Island — with fed takeover increasingly likely,” New York Post.