DASHBOARD UPDATE: NYC Comptroller Releases New Monthly Data on Department of Correction Operations

 

Data from the end of January shows a rise in people admitted to Rikers Island

The New York City Comptroller’s Office released its monthly update to the Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, available here. The dashboard monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month, which increased to 5,970 people in custody. The detained population on Rikers Island remains well above the 3,300 person capacity of the borough-based jails intended to replace the notorious complex by 2027. 

The DOC data from January shows limited progress on the key metrics available for the dashboard: 

• As of February 1, the jail population increased to 5,970 people, with 222 more people detained than January 3rd. People admitted to Rikers Island increased to 1,868 in January (+326 from December) while people discharged decreased to 1,606 (-127). 
• Judges assigned cash bail to over 1,000 people in December, for the eighth consecutive month in a row. 
• In January, the average length of stay rose to 112 days—a 3 day increase from the month before.  
• The number of people with serious mental illness held at Rikers continued to trend slowly upwards, increasing slightly from 1,108 in November to 1,111 in December.  
• The Department’s total number of staff on sick leave declined to 692 in January from 754 in December. This number remains about 4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.  
• Certain violent incidents trended upwards in January: assaults on staff increased to 61, and stabbings increased to 38. Other violent incidents declined: use of force decreased in the second quarter of FY 23, and fights decreased to 356 in January down from 388 in December. 

This month’s findings show that although DOC made some limited improvements  with regard to use of force, stabbings, and staff on sick leave, violence in jails and staffing management remain challenges.  Most concerning, the number of people admitted to jails is rising and hinders the City’s compliance with the plan to close Rikers Island by 2027.     

To address violence in the City’s jail system and increase transparency between the public and city agencies, the Comptroller’s office has been publishing DOC data to this dashboard since August 2022.