Dear New Yorkers,

This morning, my office published our monthly update to the NYC Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard.

The new information we have nakedly shows the wretched state of New York City jails, including an increase in time spent in custody, a rise in serious mental illness cases, and a rise in missed medical appointments.

A few specific data points worth noting:

• In May, the average time spent in custody increased to 104 days, a six-day increase from April.

• In April, jails held 1,186 people with a serious mental illness, a slight increase from 1,158 people in March.

• Violence indicators all increased for May. Assaults increased to 54 (up 1 from April), fights increased to 479 (an increase of 40 from April), and slashings and stabbings increased to 25 (up 6 from April).

Our June dashboard update comes amidst a swirl of foul news coming from Rikers Island and the NYC Department of Correction. Last month, an absolutely damning report from the federal monitor in charge of oversight at Rikers detailed multiple deadly incidents and efforts by City Hall and the DOC to cover it up.

One such case was that of 31-year-old Joshua Valles. Rikers officials initially reported that Valles died of a heart attack, but autopsy reports later revealed his cause of death as a fractured skull.

Days later, we learned that the DOC abruptly decided to stop notifying the public when an incarcerated person dies. This gross obstruction of transparency shows just how little DOC leadership cares about the humanity of the people in its custody. Sweeping deaths on Rikers under the rug is cruel and unacceptable.

That’s what brought me and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to conduct an oversight visit of Rikers Island at the beginning of June. We witnessed multiple practices that do not comply with Board of Correction rules, including people shackled hand and foot to desks.

Following the visit, we were joined by advocacy organizations to demand that the City deliver on our commitment to close Rikers and protect the rights of people awaiting trial.

The lack of transparency and accountability from the DOC demonstrates the urgent need for management change, and the federal judge’s consideration of appointing a federal receiver represents a significant step towards ensuring equitable treatment of people in City jails. 

Handing control of NYC’s jails over to a federal receiver is not anyone’s first choice. But given the apparent inability and unwillingness of current management to change the culture of violence at Rikers, I’ve joined those calling for a receiver to be appointed. Read more about why here.

As the city’s chief accountability officer, I am committed to continuing to bring transparency to what is happening in our City’s jails and demanding management reforms to end the humanitarian crisis that threatens the safety of both staff and people incarcerated alike. 

In solidarity, 

Brad