Rikers Island, the New York City jail complex, has been notorious for decades for its high rates of violence, lawlessness, and abuse within its walls. Now, an effort to curb its dysfunction and brutality towards inmates has made a leap forward. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain has ruled that a Remediation Manager will be appointed to take all needed steps to not only restore order in the jail, but to be responsible for enforcing previous court orders. The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association’s (COBA) president, Benny Boscio, put a positive spin on the Judge’s ruling, saying that it reinforces the fact that COBA members are protected under New York City law, and that their right to representation and collective bargaining were reflected in the Judge’s order, and added that COBA would work proactively with whomever is appointed Manager by Swain.
Read the full story by Jake Offenhartz for the Associated Press, via The Chief, published May 13, 2025, here: https://thechiefleader.com/stories/citing-unprecedented-violence-judge-strips-city-of-full-authority-over-rikers,54359
