The Rikers Island jail complex has been controversial for years now, as countless inmates, citizens, public advocates, and government officials have spoken out about the ongoing inhumane conditions there. Finally, after years of complaints, a judge has found New York City in contempt of court after not taking action to correct the unacceptable jail conditions.

According to the judge, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, the city of New York has been given 18 different court orders demanding they take action to fix specific aspects of the jail including – staffing issues, security problems, a lack of supervision, unacceptable use of force by correctional officers and a lack of safety for younger inmates.

Claims about the unconstitutional conditions at Rikers started becoming public over nine years ago when the city was faced with several abuse and violence claims. The jail was ordered to implement specific reforms, but it’s clear that efforts were never taken to fix the problems.

In the recent court ruling, Judge Swain claims that the current jail management and the city itself have acted in bad faith in complying with court orders to fix the jail’s issues. Allowing the city to remain in control of fixing the jails, she said in her ruling, would lead to more delay and confrontation.

To remedy this, the judge has suggested imposing a receivership who will be answerable directly to the court and will be in charge of correcting the safety and use of force aspects at Rikers Island. Right now, however, the city remains in control of the jail. Since little has been done and abuse by both staff and inmates continues to increase, Swain has suggested that city officials begin developing a plan for a federal takeover of the entire facility.

Are Your Rights Being Violated in a New York Jail?

When you’ve been convicted and incarcerated, it’s all too easy to assume that you’ve lost your rights to a safe and secure life. That’s not the case, though. Just because you’re an inmate doesn’t mean that you’ve lost all your rights.

As an inmate, you maintain the right to remain free from cruel and unusual punishments, access medical care, practice freedom from discrimination, and live in humane conditions. If you believe that your rights are being violated in jail, then you have the right to request legal counsel.

An attorney can help you better understand your rights as an inmate as well as advocate for you if you are genuinely being treated unfairly. In most cases, it won’t take a federal takeover of the jail to correct an abusive or unconstitutional situation. Typically, an investigation will ensue, and the responsible parties will be reprimanded.

Here at the Bukh Law Firm, we can help you identify your options if you think your rights are being violated in a jail in Brooklyn or elsewhere in the state of New York.

Our team is prepared to strongly advocate for you and ensure that you’re being treated fairly while locked up. Schedule a call with our team now to talk to one of our lawyers.