Rikers Island Illinois is Housing Kids in Jail DOC officials Making excuses for Failures

Rikers Island is a island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx that contains New York City s main jail complex. Named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664, the island was originally under 100 acres in size, but slavery and forced labor has since grown to more than 400 YORK CITY A lastditch city plan doesn t go far enough to solve Rikers Island s woes, advocates argued and, if a judge agrees, the troubled jail could be put under federal control. City officials unveiled a 28page Final Action Plan last week they argued would lead to meaningful reform, according to court filings. The plan submitted to federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain promises steps to reduce violence, install new cell doors, and deal with staffing shortages, among other problems that have plagued the jail. But advocates from The Legal Aid Society and, to a lesser extent, courtappointed federal monitor Steve Martin argued the plan is