A judge took the first step toward putting Rikers Island under federal control on Thursday afternoon, citing the safety of the inmates and the people who work in city jails.
Mayor Eric Adams opposes the takeover and says progress has been made since he took office last year.
Testimony by the monitor, Steve J. Martin, came as a federal judge considers whether the city should maintain stewardship of the jail or whether it should be put into federal receivership.Seven people have died at Rikers this year and assistant monitor Anna Friedberg said there were eight stabbings last month alone.
Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina said the city is committed to "relentless reform" and he defended the city's actions to fix systemic problems at Rikers, noting that "indicators of safety have improved" and uses of force, staff absenteeism and stabbings are down.
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