The Independent Rikers Commission, a collective tasked with examining the city’s plan to close Rikers Island, has unveiled a critical blueprint for reform and closure of the infamous jail complex that has long been characterized by unsafe conditions, high operational costs, violence and systemic dysfunction.
The comprehensive report, “A Path Forward: The Blueprint to Close Rikers,” outlines a roadmap for shutting down the facility by the legally mandated deadline of August 2027. However, the report acknowledges substantial challenges that could jeopardize this timeline.
