Emergency Executive Order 66

March 29, 2022

Download Emergency Executive Order 66

WHEREAS, on September 2, 2021, the federal monitor in the Nunez use-of-force class action stated steps must be taken immediately to address the conditions in the New York City jails; and

WHEREAS, excessive staff absenteeism among correction officers and supervising officers has contributed to a rise in unrest and disorder, and creates a serious risk to the necessary maintenance and delivery of sanitary conditions; access to basic services including showers, meals, visitation, religious services, commissary, and recreation; and prompt processing at intake; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Correction’s (DOC’s) staffing shortages are affecting health operations, including the availability of escorts to bring patients to the clinic and of DOC personnel to staff the clinics; and

WHEREAS, this Order is given to address the effects of excessive staff absenteeism and in order to address the conditions at DOC facilities; and

WHEREAS, the state of emergency existing within DOC facilities, first declared in Emergency Executive Order No. 241, issued on September 15, 2021, and extended most recently by Emergency Executive Order No. 47, issued on February 28, 2022, remains in effect;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York City Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency:

Section 1.  I hereby direct that the State of Emergency declared in Emergency Executive Order No. 241, dated September 15, 2021, and extended by subsequent orders, is extended for thirty (30) days.

§ 2.  I hereby direct that section 1 of Emergency Executive Order No. 63, dated March 24, 2022, is extended for five (5) days.

§ 3.  I hereby order that, beginning April 1, 2022, Section 8 of Emergency Executive Order No. 241, dated September 15, 2021, is amended to provide that certain suspensions of Board of Correction minimum standards applicable to housing area 2B of the George R. Vierno Center shall instead be applicable to housing area 2B of the North Infirmary Command Center and to terminate the suspension of Board of Correction minimum standard § 1-05(a-c) relating to lock-ins in that housing area, so as to read as follows:

§ 8. Solely with respect to housing area 2B of the North Infirmary Command, I hereby direct the suspension of Board of Correction minimum standards §1-03(c-d, j) (Personal Hygiene); 1-04(b)(2-3) (Single Occupancy, including storage and desk space); 1-06 (Recreation); 1-07(c) (Religion); 1-08(f)(4) (Law Library Access); 1-08(g)(2-4) (Legal Documents and Supplies Access); 1-09(c-d, f) (Visiting); 1-11(c-d) (Correspondence); 1-12(d) (Incoming Packages); 1-13(a-c) (Publications); and 1-14(a-b) (Access to Media), to allow the DOC to utilize this area for special safety and security purposes.

§ 4. This Emergency Executive Order shall take effect immediately, except that section three of this Order shall take effect on April 1, 2022. The State of Emergency shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Additional declarations to extend the State of Emergency for additional periods not to exceed thirty (30) days shall be issued if needed.

Eric Adams
Mayor