"NEW YORK - Ever since Zohran Mamdani took office as New York City's mayor in January, efforts to close the long-troubled Rikers Island jail complex have received renewed attention. The facilities - plagued for years by violence, overcrowding, neglect and poor medical care - are required by law to be closed by 2027, but are way behind schedule."
"Mamdani - who had long wanted to shutter the facilities but opposed creating more jails to replace them - shifted his position during the mayoral campaign, saying he would follow the City Council plan to close Rikers, one of the world's largest jail complexes, and move its occupants to four smaller jails to be built across the city."
"Since taking the helm, Mamdani has issued an executive order to develop a plan to stop using solitary confinement in jails, announced a housing project on a hospital campus for people returning from incarceration with chronic physical and mental health issues, and appointed a new jails commissioner, who was once formerly incarcerated at Rikers."
Zohran Mamdani assumed New York City's mayoralty in January and revived attention on closing the Rikers Island jail complex. The facilities have long suffered violence, overcrowding, neglect and poor medical care and are legally required to close by 2027, though the schedule is behind. Mamdani shifted to support the City Council plan to replace Rikers with four smaller jails across the city. The administration must balance public safety, federal court oversight, and activist expectations. Actions taken include ordering plans to end solitary confinement, creating reentry housing on a hospital campus, and appointing a new jails commissioner. Construction delays could push closure to 2032.
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