Borough-Based Jails

In the spring of 2017, the City committed to closing the jails on Rikers Island by creating a network of four modern, more humane jail sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. This smaller borough-based jail system, built upon a foundation of dignity and respect, will house a much smaller jail population than Rikers Island, reflecting the reality that both historic crime rates and the impulse to jail our way to public safety have continued to fall off.

The borough-based system will strengthen connections to families, attorneys, courts, medical and mental health care, and faith and community-based organizations. Being closer to home and transit will enhance the network of support systems for people who are detained and help prevent reincarceration.

The new facilities will be designed to foster safety and wellbeing for both those incarcerated and for staff, providing space for quality education, health, and therapeutic programming. Modern facilities can also serve as a catalyst for positive change in the community and the broader justice system.

New York City is reimagining its jails as civic assets that will provide a better life for those who are detained and work in them, support smoother transitions back home, and serve as resources for the community.

Program Goals

1. The design and construction of the new Facilities must be grounded in dignity and respect through offering spaces dedicated to promoting better connections to families, attorneys, courts, medical and mental health care, education, therapeutic programming, and service providers. These Facilities must enable effective and tailored programming, provide appropriate housing for those with medical and mental health needs, and facilitate enhanced opportunities for stable reentry into the community.
2. The design and construction of the new Facilities and related projects of the BBJ Program must provide a safe, humane, secure, and efficient environment for all those who work, visit, or are in custody within these Facilities.
3. The design and construction of the new Facilities and related projects must be beacons of exemplary public architecture that thoughtfully respond to the urban context, contribute positively to the character of the surrounding neighborhood and streetscape, and serve as civic assets for all New Yorkers. 
4. The design and construction of the new Facilities must strive to relate to the city they are in and create a sense of place for the citizens they serve. As good civic architecture, the Facilities must be welcoming and inclusive, serving all regardless of ability, race, creed, or gender. The Facilities must embody a generative spirit that does not stagnate on a fixed identity and is uplifting rather than authoritative, empowering the people and communities they serve.
5. The Program must provide exceptional design for the new Facilities through thoughtful engagement with City agencies and community partners.
6. The construction and related operations must minimize impacts to neighboring properties, facilities and the community at large; achieve dust and noise mitigation standards that meet or exceed minimum regulatory thresholds.
7. The Program must provide safety in and around the new Facility sites.
8. The Program must optimize operations and maintenance efficiency in the new Facilities.
9. Program completion must be within budget and on schedule.
10. The Program must proactively seek out innovative solutions to accelerate the schedule while controlling cost and maintaining quality and safety.
11. The Program must facilitate robust minority- and women-owned business enterprise participation.
12. The Program must embody the City's principles of Project Excellence in design, construction, and project delivery.