Harry DiPrinzio
Protesters noted that most people held on Rikers are awaiting trial, suggesting that a new approach to pretrial detention to substantially reduce the need for cells.
While many Bronx politicians oppose the specific site the mayor has targeted for a new facility to partly replace Rikers Island, a vocal coalition of protesters is calling for an end to jails and policing as we know it.
Not so fast. With Raise the Age going into effect this week, the city’s 16- and 17-year-olds in custody are just moving from one jail to another.
Closing Rikers will mean new or bigger jails in at least four neighborhoods. New York City already has 14 correctional Institutions besides those on the notorious Island. Most are barely noticed.
It looks like the warehouse it once was. But the Queens Detention Facility, operated by the second largest private prison company in the world, currently houses approximately 210 detainees.
Hear from Richard Aborn of the Citizens Crime Commission, Nick Suplina of Everytown for Gun Safety, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Liz Glazer of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Heidi Hynes from the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center in the Bronx and Detectives’ Endowment Association president Michael Palladino.
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