In a significant development, the Adams administration is set to reopen a portion of the Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC) on Rikers Island to accommodate an increasing number of detainees awaiting transfer to state facilities. This decision comes as the city faces a critical staffing shortage in state prisons, leading to a backlog of individuals who have been convicted and are ready to be moved.
As of April 3, 2025, the population at Rikers has surged to 7,106, a number not seen since 2019. Among this population are over 500 detainees classified as “state ready,” meaning they have been sentenced to more than a year in detention and should be transferred to state custody. However, the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) halted these transfers following a wildcat strike by prison guards in mid-February.
The state prison system had initially planned to resume accepting transfers on April 1, but this date has since been pushed back to April 21, according to multiple sources within the jail. A top Department of Correction (DOC) supervisor noted, “The reality is we are running out of bed space,” highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In an effort to alleviate overcrowding, DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III announced that the department would consider releasing eligible prisoners up to 90 days early. This initiative targets individuals whose release dates have already been approved by the parole board or who have met their maximum allowance date. However, those convicted of violent felonies or sex crimes will not qualify for early release.
The staffing crisis in state prisons has intensified since the strike, which lasted approximately three weeks and prompted Governor Kathy Hochul to call in the National Guard to assist with security duties. Amidst negotiations to entice officers back to work, Hochul fired around 2,000 guards who refused to return and banned them from future state employment. The ongoing staffing shortages have led to discussions about potentially closing up to five prisons.
As the situation at Rikers unfolds, jail officials attribute the overcrowding to a combination of factors, including the strike, a lack of available beds in mental health facilities, and recent legal changes that have delayed court proceedings. Criminal justice advocates are urging the Adams administration to take more proactive measures to reduce the jail population, such as expanding mental health programs and enhancing pre-trial monitoring systems.
The newly re-established Independent Rikers Commission has emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges at Rikers, which it describes as a “decrepit, dysfunctional and violent” facility. The commission has pointed out that it costs approximately $400,000 annually to incarcerate an individual on Rikers, raising concerns about the system’s sustainability and public safety.
As the reopening of AMKC looms, the complexities surrounding Rikers Island and the state prison system continue to demand attention and action from city and state officials alike.
