Transfer Control of Rikers Island
- Date Due
- 07/01/2021
- Responsible Entity
- Mayor
- Action
- Transfer Control of Rikers Island
- Summary
- The Mayor must transfer portions of Rikers Island not in use for incarceration to the commissioner of citywide administrative services.
- Status
- Ongoing: In 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio authorized the transfer of the New York City Department of Correction’s (DOC) James A. Thomas Center to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). No additional transfers have occurred since Mayor Adams took office in January 2022. DOC missed the transfer deadline of July 1, 2022, despite shutting down the Otis Bantum Correctional Center. DOC plans to transfer portions of Rikers Island to DCAS every six months until August 31, 2027.
- Statute
- LL16 § 1 adds new Administrative Code Tit. 4. Ch. 2 § 4-215.
LL16 § 1: "Transfer of Rikers Island to the commissioner of citywide administrative services. a. With respect to the location that is known as Rikers Island:
1. By no later than July 1, 2021, and every six months thereafter until charge and control over the entirety of Rikers Island has been transferred pursuant to this section, the mayor shall transfer charge over every portion of Rikers Island that the mayor determines is not in active use for the housing of incarcerated persons, or in active use for the providing of direct services to such persons, such as medical care, training, storage, employment training and services, re-entry services, educational services, visitation, legal services, or administrative hearings, to the charge of the commissioner of citywide administrative services. For the purposes of this paragraph, the use of each building, facility, and structure, as well as the use of every piece of unimproved land greater than 20,000 square feet, shall be evaluated. By no later than August 31, 2027, all portions of Rikers Island shall be fully transferred and under the charge and control of the commissioner of citywide administrative services and shall no longer be used by the department of correction for the housing of incarcerated persons."