NYC Jail Boss Calls for More Solitary Confinement, Snubbing Reformers
Citing a spike in slashings at the facility, 76 since June, Department of Correction Commissioner Molina says the change is necessary to deal with the detainees there who are “most prone to violence.”
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Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina has submitted a so-called variance request for people inside the George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) at the Rikers Island detention facility, requesting to punish certain inmates with solitary confinement for 17 hours a day, up from the current 10 hours, reports Rueven Blau for The City.
Citing a spike in slashings at the facility, 76 since June, rivaling the 80 similar attacks that have happened at all other Rikers facilities combined in that time, Molina argues the change is necessary for dealing with the detainees there who are “most prone to violence.” While advocates and some lawmakers slammed the request, which comes 15 days after the City Council held a heated hearing on a bill that would “ban the use of solitary confinement in city jails,” Molina contends that reducing out-of-cell time to just seven hours a day “is not unreasonable” and “is a far cry from solitary confinement.” He also noted that his proposal to limit cell out-of-time at GRVC is supported by the federal monitor, Steve Martin.
