This archive report was first published on 18 September 2021.
Published on September 18, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to release 191 detainees from Rikers Island as soon as possible.
However, the city's efforts to reduce the jail population are being hindered by a staffing crisis, which has led to a backlog of court cases.
"I've been appealing to the state to restart the whole criminal justice system, the court system fully," de Blasio said.
But Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark countered that the staffing shortage has also led to defendants being held in jail for extended periods, with some not being produced for arraignment in a timely manner.
"Now, because of the staffing issue, we have inmates indicted for violence while in jail who are not being produced for arraignment in a timely manner," Clark said.
As the situation at Rikers Island continues to deteriorate, virus rates among detainees are climbing, with only 36% of detainees and 37% of Correction Department staff fully vaccinated.
"The current conditions are resulting in a rapid increase in Covid-19 infection rate in the jails. Previously effective control mechanisms such as isolation and quarantine will not be possible because of the department's dysfunction and overcrowding," said Dr. Robert Cohen, a member of the Board of Correction.
