NEW YORK (Sputnik) — New legislation has been signed into law to ensure the wellbeing of New York City’s prisoners, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
"These eight criminal justice bills are a great step forward for fairness and transparency, and will deepen our efforts to usher in a new, safer era for the Department of Correction," de Blasio stated on Wednesday.
"These requirements, which provide for greater transparency and oversight of the DOC, are consistent with this administration’s commitment to improving jail facilities," de Blasio’s office said.
The legislation also requires the DOC to report statistics related to inmate demographics, segregated housing units, inmate visitation, bail amounts, sentencing lengths and inmate grievances in an effort to assure fair treatment of inmates.
"Inmates are entitled to certain rights while they await trial and/or serve their sentences," New York City Council Member Inez Barron said. "This bill, along with other bills signed into law today, seeks to address complaints by inmates and their families about the conditions in our prison facilities."
Rikers Island, New York City’s largest jail complex, has a daily average population of 14,000, according to the Department of Corrections.
In May 2013, Rikers Island was ranked as one of the worst prisons in the United States by Mother Jones magazine.
