Advocating for a better criminal justice system

The Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform advocates to implement A More Just New York City, a groundbreaking evidence-based set of recommendations for improving New York City’s criminal justice system, including closing the dysfunctional jail complex on Rikers Island, significantly reducing the number of people in jail, and shifting to a modern system of smaller facilities located near the borough criminal courts. We provide policymakers with the tools and roadmaps to implement our recommendations.

CLOSING RIKERS:
creating a more just nyc

New York City is on the historic path toward permanently closing the Rikers jails and creating a much smaller detention system of more humane, program-rich facilities focused on rehabilitation and re-entry. Watch the video to learn how we will close Rikers and create a more just New York City.

LATEST REPORT

Closing Rikers Island: A Roadmap for Reducing Jail in New York City

“New York City has embarked on a far-reaching effort to shutter its notorious Rikers Island jail complex. The effort hinges on safely reducing the number of people in city jails—an achievable goal that demands policy changes at a number of levels. This report lays out a roadmap for safely limiting the use of jail in the years ahead, as a new set of elected policymakers will be tasked with bringing to fruition the end of Rikers.” Read More →

LATEST OP-ED

I Was New York State’s Chief Judge. Rikers Is a Tragedy.

“The morally unacceptable and life-threatening crisis on Rikers Island has crystallized the need to close its long-dysfunctional jails permanently. But until they are shuttered, we need to enact safe, pragmatic and sensible strategies to bring the incarcerated population down to a level that the Department of Correction can realistically handle.” Read More →

Remembering Herb Sturz: Pioneering Social Entrepreneur

“Herb’s two superpowers were creativity and humility. He was a man of a thousand ideas. Not all of them were great, but his batting average was better than anyone else we can think of. Crucially, his imagination was paired with a willingness to work behind the scenes and let others receive the glory.” Read More →

STATEMENT ON VERDICT IN MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

“Our collective safety, health, and well-being are inextricably bound, and damaged to the core by the scourge of racism. Our society needs transformational change.” Read More →

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