SUOZZI TOURS RIKERS ISLAND FACILITY
Along with other Members of Congress, decries current situation as unacceptable and dangerous for both prisoners and correction officers
Today, Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D – Long Island, Queens), along with other Members of Congress, toured the Rikers Island jail complex and spoke with Rikers’ officials regarding the current state of the facility.
“Today I toured the Rikers Island Jail Complex with other Members of Congress. As Nassau County Executive, I oversaw the Corrections Facility which, before I assumed office, had been placed under a federal consent decree due to substandard conditions in 2000. Under my administration, we were removed from federal oversight. I know firsthand that the deteriorating infrastructure that I witnessed today, the staffing levels, and years of mismanagement have led to the failure of the Rikers facility.
People are clamoring for the closing of Rikers. There are credible plans, that will require some amendments to build new facilities, utilize alternatives to incarceration for appropriate nonviolent offenders, along with other plans to close facilities and reduce the prison population, but no such relocation can take place for at least six years! Six years!
Rikers’ physical plant must be improved. Staffing must be reassessed and adequate. Management must lay out a clear vision and a plan to implement that vision.
I applaud the hard-working men and women of the Corrections Department for doing their job under subpar conditions. I am heartened by the new Commissioner and management’s efforts to make incremental improvements over the past month, and I offer my help and expertise to make further improvements, but the current situation remains unacceptable and dangerous for both prisoners and corrections officers.”