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

 

The New York City Comptroller’s Office released its monthly update to the Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, available here.

March 2023’s key monthly DOC metrics show:

• As of April 3, the jail population was 5,951 people, a slight increase of 36 people from March 1.
• 1,875 people were admitted to the jail in March, 223 more people than in February. 1,885 people were discharged, 179 more people than in the previous month.
• Judges assigned cash bail to over 1,000 people in February, the latest data available, for the ninth consecutive month in a row.
• In March, the average length-of-stay dropped slightly to 109 days—a 3 day decrease from the month before.
• The number of people with serious mental illness held at Rikers continued to trend slowly upwards, increasing slightly from 1,153 in January to 1,164 in February.
• Incarcerated people did not show for their requested medical appointments 9,205 times in February, an increase of 67 from January.
• The average number of uniformed staff increased by 30 officers between February and March, totaling 6,661.
• The Department’s total number of uniformed staff on sick leave continues to trend downward, declining to 639 in March.
• All types of violent incidents increased in March: assaults on staff increased to 59, and stabbings increased to 32.

Last month’s report from the Federal Monitor found that while some areas saw slow improvement, excessive force by staff on people incarcerated, assaults on staff, and violence between people in custody remains alarmingly high.

Meanwhile, the number of people held in City jails continues to rise, undermining the goal of closing Rikers Island by 2027, as required by law. The detained population at Rikers remains well above the 3,300 person capacity of the borough-based jails intended to replace the notorious complex. This month’s data show some limited improvements with regard to average length-of-stay and uniformed staff on sick leave. However, the rising jail population indicates that the Adams Administration is not on track to close Rikers by 2027.

“We made a commitment as a city to shutter the violent, isolated, and crumbling facilities on Rikers Island. Yet the rising number of people detained pre-trial and the ongoing effort to roll back bail reforms in Albany are taking us in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, DOC’s failure to get a handle on violence – which rose again this month – threatens the lives and safety of both people in custody and staff. Given the rise in violence and the lack of a long-term plan, I continue to believe it is time for the appointment of a Federal receiver,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.

The Comptroller’s dashboard, first published in August 2022, 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 and length of stay. The Comptroller’s office publishes data to this dashboard monthly to provide increased transparency and accountability over the City’s jail system. 

View the dashboard here.

Attorney General James to Host First Ever Statewide Gun Buyback on April 29

 

In her ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers from gun violence and keep communities safe, New York Attorney General Letitia James is hosting the first-ever statewide community gun buyback in New York on Saturday, April 29. This one-day statewide initiative will feature nine simultaneous gun buyback events held across the state, at which the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will accept — with no questions asked — working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation on site. The OAG provides money in the form of prepaid gift cards when a gun is received and secured by law enforcement officers on site. 

Working in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and leaders, Attorney General James is hosting the gun buybacks on Saturday, April 29, at the following times and locations:

• Family Life Academy in the Bronx – 14 West 170th St, Bronx, NY 10452. 10 AM to 1 PM. 
• All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn – 115 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206. 10AM to 1 PM.
• OAG Suffolk Regional Office in Suffolk County – 300 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. 10 AM to 1 PM.
• Watervliet Dome in Albany County – 1300 2nd Ave, Watervliet, NY 12189. 10 AM to 1 PM.
• American Legion Post in Ulster County –18 West O’Reilly St, Kingston, NY 12401. 10 AM to 1 PM.
• St. Lucy’s Food Pantry in Onondaga County – 425 Gifford St, Syracuse, NY 13204. 10AM to 3 PM.
• Johnson City Senior Center in Broome County – 30 Brocton St, Johnson City, NY 13790. 10 AM to 1 PM. 
• Clinton County Fairgrounds in Clinton County – 84 Fair Grounds Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. 10 AM to 1 PM.
• Saint John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Niagara County – 917 Garden & Richard Allen Way, Niagara Falls, NY 14302. 10 AM to 1 PM.

The OAG will be providing the following amount for firearms turned in on site at each event:

• $500 per assault rifle or ghost gun
• $150 per handgun ($500 will be given for the first handgun turned in per person)
• $75 per rifle or shotgun
• $25 per non-working, replica, antique, homemade, or 3D printed gun

The OAG accepts both working and non-working firearms, and there is no limit on the number of firearms an individual can turn in. The guns must be unloaded and placed in a bag or a box. This is an amnesty program, in which no questions will be asked about the person dropping off the gun. 

This statewide initiative is part of Attorney General James’ efforts to combat gun violence and protect people from harm. To date, Attorney General James has helped remove more than 4,000 guns from New York communities since 2019.

NYC DOC OFFICER CHARGED IN GROPING OF FELLOW OFFICER WHILE BOTH WERE ON DUTY IN RIKERS ISLAND

 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber today announced that a New York City Department of Correction Officer has been charged with Forcible Touching, third-degree Sexual Abuse and Harassment of a Correction Officer at a Rikers Island facility.

 District Attorney Clark said, “We will hold accountable anyone who commits a crime in the jails, and workplace sexual abuse will not be tolerated. The victimized officer was performing her job and was allegedly abused by a colleague, someone she should be able to trust in a place where Correction staff are victims of violence by inmates.” 

 Commissioner Strauber said, “No person – and no City employee -- should be subject to sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace. The defendant’s alleged conduct toward a fellow officer is not only a violation of Department of Correction policies and his duty as a City Correction Officer, it is a crime. I thank the Department of Correction for referring the complaint and the Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for prosecuting this important case, which makes clear that the charged conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Carlos Ozorio, 38, an 11-year veteran of the DOC, was arrested and arraigned today on a Misdemeanor complaint charging Forcible Touching, third-degree Sexual Abuse and second-degree harassment before Bronx Criminal Court Judge Matthew Grieco. He is due back in court on June 7, 2023.

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Carlos Ozorio, 38, an 11-year veteran of the DOC, was arrested and arraigned today on a Misdemeanor complaint charging Forcible Touching, third-degree Sexual Abuse and second-degree harassment before Bronx Criminal Court Judge Matthew Grieco. He is due back in court on June 7, 2023.

 For DOI, the investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General for DOC, specifically Captain Lawrence Bond, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Marissa Carro, Senior Inspector General Whitney Ferguson, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella and First Deputy Commissioner Daniel G. Cort.

A complaint is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Governor Hochul Announces Long Island Rail Road Surpasses One Million Customers at Grand Central Madison

 

Record Pandemic-Era Ridership Coincides with Opening of Second Manhattan Terminal

On-Time Performance Has Climbed Above 93 Percent Following Schedule Enhancements

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Long Island Rail Road has surpassed one million paying customers traveling in or out of Grand Central Madison Terminal, which opened with full service on February 27. The milestone was surpassed on Friday, April 7. In addition, the LIRR announced several pandemic-era ridership records achieved since Grand Central Madison opened for full service. On both Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9, the railroad carried record pandemic-era weekend ridership as New Yorkers used mass transit to get around during the holiday weekend - 108,740 customers traveling on Saturday and 98,030 traveling on Sunday. On Tuesday, March 21, 213,026 customers took the LIRR, surpassing the previous pandemic-era record from November 2022.

"We have made historic investments in transit on Long Island, making it easier to connect commuters across the region," Governor Hochul said. "With the millionth rider traveling through Grand Central Madison mere months after the terminal's opening, it shows just how essential this service has already become for New Yorkers over only a short period of time."

The LIRR also announced several milestones achieved since the opening of Grand Central Madison. This March, the LIRR has sold 358,609 City Tickets - which provides off-peak travel within New York City for $5 - a 118.5 percent increase over the previous March. The Combo Ticket, an opportunity for customers to purchase discounted tickets when traveling on both LIRR and Metro-North Railroad in the same journey made possible through the opening of Grand Central Madison, has been utilized by over 4,000 customers since its launch. Through April 18, 2023, 15,503 LIRR trains have arrived at or departed from Grand Central Madison. The MTA's popular TrainTime app has seen over 370,000 tickets purchased for trips to or from Grand Central Madison.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "One million customers represent a major milestone in the rollout of Grand Central Madison. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers have had their lives improved since GCM opened - some by more convenient connections to world-renowned hospitals, others by first-time reverse commuting connecting city residents to Long Island jobs, and still others just by saving as much as 40 minutes on their daily commute. Little by little, Grand Central Madison is fundamentally transforming the fabric of New York."

In recent weeks, schedule adjustments and lengthened trains have been introduced, increasing comfort and reliability, and boosting on-time performance above 93.5 percent. Since February 27, the LIRR has exceeded 200,000 riders on 16 days, a threshold the railroad had only crossed twice during the first 57 days of 2023. During the seven days between April 9 and April 15, the LIRR carried an average of 168,726 daily customers, the best seven-day average since March 2020. The highest daily ridership at Grand Central Madison was achieved on Tuesday, April 11, with approximately 32,060 customers traveling in and out of the new Manhattan terminal.

To mark the milestone of one million rides being surpassed, the LIRR welcomed two Grand Central Madison customers to join the celebration: Ray Ragunauth and Karen Hamilton. Ragunauth is a physical therapist and Long Island resident, who was able to pursue new career opportunities on the East Side of Manhattan thanks to the shortened commute brought about by Grand Central Madison. Hamilton is a resident of Laurelton, Queens, who has benefited both from the introduction of more frequent service to stations within Queens and the opening of Grand Central Madison, where she frequently travels with her mother to medical appointments at NYU Langone Health.

Chair of the LIRR Commuter Council and Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA and MTA Board Member Gerard Bringmann said,"1,000,000 Grand Central Madison trips is a major milestone for riders and the LIRR. In the few months since new LIRR service began, Grand Central Madison has opened new travel options and improvements for tens of thousands of daily LIRR riders who now have direct access and shorter commutes to the East Side. We're glad to see that the MTA has continued to respond to rider feedback through ongoing adjustments, most recently this Monday, April 17th, and look forward to seeing even more riders take advantage of new service in the coming months. Grand Central Madison is truly a symbol of a more unified and integrated transit system with both railroads and the Subway under one roof!"

MAYOR ADAMS RECOGNIZES IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERISM AND SERVICE IN NEW YORK CITY

 

City Celebrates Volunteer Efforts for National Volunteer Month  

Launches New Digital Platform to Engage New Yorkers in Service 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Chief Service Officer Laura Rog today honored four recipients of the Mayoral Service Impact Awards, as well recognized nearly 4,000 volunteers from 150 not-for-profit organizations and 16 private sector businesses engaging 30 percent or more of their employees in volunteerism as part of the annual Mayoral Service Recognition Program.

“We overcame the darkest days in New York City history because of the selfless work of everyday New Yorkers and volunteers,” said Mayor Adams. “Your time and talents are invaluable. One hour of service could mean a life changed forever. I want to thank the volunteers, our private sector partners, staff, and leaders of community-based organizations for dedicating your careers to serving others. And to the recipients of the Mayoral Service Impact Awards, I applaud you for your service to New York City. You’ve made the communities around you cleaner, healthier, and happier. And you’ve shown us how we can make a difference, too. Together, we will keep building this city up, one act of service at a time.”

“Service is love in action and New Yorkers love hard,” said Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. “Together, through love and service we are able to create positive change in this city that we love so dearly, and it’s a privilege to honor thousands of volunteers who show their love each and every day through their talent, time, and resources.”

“Volunteering and service are the cornerstones of thriving and healthy communities. When we act in service to others, we are connected to a movement bigger than ourselves and united by love for our communities,” said Chief Service Officer Rog. “It’s an honor to celebrate the organizations and people who have answered the call to serve in New York City.”   

The recognition program is a citywide celebration of volunteerism across sectors, underscoring the power of service to unite individuals and build a city where all New Yorkers can succeed. In March 2023, Mayor Adams announced the “Spread Love NYC” campaign, a nine-month long cross-sector campaign to connect New Yorkers to both short one-hour and long-term service projects with local not-for-profit organizations. Since launching, more than 100 organizations have joined the campaign and more than 600 New Yorkers have committed to serve. 

Mayor Adams and Chief Service Officer Rog also unveiled a new digital platform operated by NYC Service, as well as a new mission and vision for the mayoral office focused on building a culture of service in New York City and providing meaningful access and opportunities for New Yorkers to serve. The new additions to the digital platform offers the more than 380 not-for-profit community groups the ability to source in-kind donations for volunteer programs, as well as grow employee engagement partnerships with the private sector to further employee volunteer engagement.

Mayoral Service Impact Awards honor youth, business and community partnerships, community-based organizations, and AmeriCorps alumni for exceptional volunteer and service projects. NYC Service received more than 150 nominations for the four award categories.

The Mayoral Service Recognition Awardees honored for exceptional service in 2022 are:

• Katharine Reed: Honored with the AmeriCorps Alum Impact Award for embodying the AmeriCorps spirit of “Getting Things Done” in New York City communities beyond her service year. Reed engaged over 900 volunteers in safe and accessible composting and community-clean-up projects.

• Children of Promise, NYC: Honored with the Community Impact Award for leveraging the power of volunteers in innovative and resourceful ways to strategically address community needs. A total of 176 volunteers provided academic support to 180 youth, as well as supported their families and caregivers.

• New York Yankees and Food Bank For New York City: Honored with the Partnership Impact Award for an innovative partnership in service to a community. Through the partnership, over 150,000 meals were distributed to more than 21,338 New Yorkers in the Bronx.

• Afnan Faiza: Honored with the Youth Impact Award for going above and beyond to create tangible impact in her community through the Older Adult Center Enrichment Initiative in Sunnyside, Queens.

New Yorkers can learn more about the Mayoral Service Recognition Program online.

“During my time as an AmeriCorps member and now in my full-time position with the Sanitation Foundation, I have had the incredible opportunity to join forces with so many dedicated community leaders who are working together to create a cleaner and healthier city,” said Katharine Reed, winner, AmeriCorps Alum Impact Award. “My AmeriCorps experience has and will continue to play a significant role in shaping my career path. I am both humbled and honored to accept this award.” 

“For 13 years, Children of Promise, NYC has been honored to partner with an incredible network of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to empowering young people impacted by parental incarceration across the city,” said Sharon Content, founder and president, Children of Promise, NYC, winner, Community Impact Award. “As the pandemic exacerbated many of the challenges facing our scholars, our volunteers leaned in to meet evolving community needs and we are thrilled to receive this honor amplifying our collective impact.”

“As an organization, the Yankees remain steadfastly committed to positively impacting the health and wellness of the local community, and we are grateful to have a dedicated partner in the Food Bank For New York City with whom we can meet this challenge,” said Brian Smith, senior vice president, Corporate/Community Relations, New York Yankees, winner, Partnership Impact Award with Food Bank For New York City. “Food insecurity has a debilitating effect on New York City residents of all ages, undermining the quality of life and future prospects for entire families and neighborhoods. Through our joint efforts with the Food Bank For New York City, we have been able to provide high-quality provisions for thousands of in-need New Yorkers on a consistent basis, and we can testify to the immense impact that can be made when organizations come together on a vision they could not realize alone.”

“Food Bank For New York City is proud and thankful to have had the New York Yankees, a cornerstone institution in New York City and for many of its residents, as a partner for the past 12 years,” said Leslie Gordon, president and CEO, Food Bank For New York City, winner, Partnership Impact Award with the New York Yankees. “The Yankees have been a pillar in helping Food Bank provide low-income communities with greater access to nutritious foods and, through their hard work and dedication, in 2022 alone, they’ve helped us distribute over 150,000 meals to more than 21,338 New Yorkers. With the Bronx having the highest rates of food insecurity in the city, we are forever thankful for their continued commitment, partnership, and devotion in helping to feed New Yorkers in need.”

“The Sunnyside Community Older Adults Center helps so many people every day and I feel so privileged to have been given the opportunity to help at the center,” said Afnan Faiza winner, Youth Impact Award. “Thank you to Ms. Serrano and the rest of the Sunnyside Community Services team for allowing me to play a small role in positively impacting the center and community.”