Opponents of Jail Reform Will Hinder Tisch’s Crime-Fighting Initiatives

New Yorkers, worried about ongoing crime and disorder, are supporting Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s initiatives to enforce stricter measures. Meanwhile, it seems that the city’s Democratic leaders are keen to undercut her efforts.

The leading candidates for mayor and the City Council majority remain set on reducing or completely closing Rikers Island, the city’s jail facility. They are convinced that the push for de-incarceration is the solution, believing that prisons do more harm than good.

However, facts and common sense indicate otherwise: Jails and prisons effectively protect the public, as incarcerated criminals are unable to commit further offenses.

Last week’s City Council hearing on criminal justice felt utterly detached from reality.

Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) expressed being “deeply troubled by the number of people jailed.”

Several Council members called for the Department of Correction to reinstate the release program initiated during the COVID outbreak, ignoring the fact that half of those released quickly returned to criminal activities.

It’s crucial for the Police Benevolent Association, the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, and other public safety advocates to challenge the city’s misguided proposal to close Rikers Island and replace it with four smaller jails that collectively could house only half of the current inmate population.

The urgency is heightened now that New York has a new police commissioner dedicated to addressing quality-of-life crimes.

While it’s impossible to jail someone for minor offenses like fare evasion or graffiti, many such offenses are often committed by repeat offenders who are wanted for more serious crimes; when they are arrested, judges have the authority to detain them pre-trial—provided that jail capacity is available.

For that reason, the commissioner needs available jail cells.

Yet, all leading Democratic mayoral candidates oppose offering the necessary jail space to combat crime effectively.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the most recent entrant into the Democratic primary, insists on “alternatives to incarceration.”

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani promises to “take every step to de-incarcerate,” arguing that public safety derives from “dignified work, economic stability, and well-resourced neighborhoods” rather than policing and punitive measures.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has attempted to present himself as a “moderate,” pledging to hire an additional 5,000 police officers. However, during his governorship, he oversaw the closure of 24 state prisons and juvenile detention centers, and he reiterated his support for the “bail reform” law he enacted in 2019, which continues to stand by.

This legislation requires judges to release suspects charged with misdemeanors and even serious felonies such as assault, burglary, and auto theft, rather than imposing jail time or requiring cash bail.

The tangible outcome of the 2019 law has been a reduced inmate population at Rikers, resulting in a surge of repeat offenders on the streets.

Merely three months after its implementation, crime rates in New York City soared by 20%, with a staggering 34% increase in robberies, as indicated by NYPD CompStat data.

The trend towards de-incarceration accelerated further with the arrival of COVID, leading to the release of prisoners to prevent the spread of the virus. By the end of 2020, murders in NYC had surged 41% from the previous year, with auto thefts rising by 67%.

“It’s absurd to think crime can be reduced by lowering the number of individuals in jail,” retired Assistant District Attorney Jim Quinn mentioned to me this week.

Absurd, yet that’s the reasoning fueling the campaign to close Rikers.

Former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly expressed to me his concerns, stating that closing Rikers would be a significant error.

His main worry is that the proposed borough-based jails, each with a maximum capacity of only 825 detainees, would provide a great advantage to gangs, who would find it easier to organize than in the sprawling Rikers Island facility (which has a maximum capacity of 15,000).

Leftist Mamdani advocates for therapeutic alternatives to incarceration, but as Manhattan Institute’s Hannah Myers has articulated, mandated rehab programs such as job training and therapy do not deter crime.

This doesn’t imply that the current conditions at Rikers Island are acceptable.

The crumbling infrastructure, high rates of violence against officers and inmates, and deaths from suicides and overdoses demonstrate that the current administration cannot oversee Rikers effectively. It necessitates federal oversight to ensure the safety of inmates and staff.

The viable solution is to redevelop the facility in its current location. Its isolated position allows for secure housing, outdoor recreational spaces, and potential expansion when necessary.

New Yorkers who prioritize public safety must voice their opposition to the Democrats’ de-incarceration aspirations.

Without sufficient jail space to prevent criminals from victimizing others, Tisch’s enforcement policies stand little chance of success.

Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City.