News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2025

NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION CLOSES 2025 AS A YEAR OF HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN STAFF AND PEOPLE IN CUSTODY

The Department Implemented Key Modernization Initiatives, Programmatic Offerings, Recruitment Efforts and Infrastructure Improvements While Managing an Increase in the Population

EAST ELMHURST, NY — Under the leadership of Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, the New York City Correction Department made significant investments in the safety, security and programmatic support available to agency staff and the people in DOC care. These investments were made even as the Department managed a sharp, unexpected increase in population and as the staffing crisis in the state DOCCS system created an unprecedented backlog in transfers between the two agencies. Despite these challenges, 2025 proved to be a year of significant improvements for new officer recruitment, infrastructure upgrades, and initiatives to modernize the Department’s facilities and practices.

“This agency is about serving people. Everything we do is centered on providing the best possible support to those who live and work in our facilities,” said NYC Department of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. “2025 was a year of challenges and the members of New York’s Boldest have continued to rise to the occasion demonstrating their unwavering commitment to public service and this city. I am proud of the work they do on behalf of those in our care, and I am committed to investing in them, in our workplace, and in all people who step foot into one of our facilities.”

Safety, Security and Operations:

From January 1 to October 31, nearly all persons in custody were produced on time for their in-person court dates. 2025 boasts a 98.6% production rate, an increase over the previous year.
The Department mobilized to house approximately 1,200 people unexpectedly held in DOC custody due to both the state staffing crisis and a lack of available beds for those needing a higher level of mental health care. From the maintenance division to program staff, members of this Department worked tirelessly to provide safe, humane, and dignified housing and provide appropriate programming and care.
The Department distributed over 5,000 new body-worn cameras to all uniformed members of service.
Nutritional Services served over 7.3 million meals to people in custody this year.
As of December, more than 6,000 tablets were distributed to people in custody, representing an increase from the prior year. Approximately 83% of people in custody who are eligible now have their own tablets.
Despite the increase in population, violence has continued to decline:
- Slashings and stabbings rates per 1,000 persons in custody have declined by approximately 17% CYTD in 2025, compared to calendar-year-to-date in 2024.
- Fights rates per 1,000 persons in custody have decreased 7% CYTD in 2025, compared to the same period in CYTD 2024.
- Use of force incident rates per 1,000 persons in custody were down around 8% in CYTD 2025, compared to CYTD 2024.

Targeted Programming:

The Division of Programs and Community Partnerships delivered more than 72,000 program sessions, as of early December, representing an eight percent increase from the prior year. New initiatives that were launched or expanded include:

The DOC and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) launched Haven: Reunification, a monthly program that provides incarcerated fathers with an opportunity to spend an afternoon with their families at BCM. This family friendly visit is designed to facilitate bonding and learning and is held on days when the Museum is closed to the public, with on-site supervision provided by DOC.
This June, East River Academy saw its largest graduating class of people in custody earning their high school diplomas or equivalencies in fourteen years.
Contracts to return outside programs to Rikers Island were finalized. The scope of this $14 million investment in enhanced programming was designed in consultation with people in custody and will roll out in 2026.
In April, the Department worked with NYC Parks on a first-of-its-kind gallery exhibition featuring artwork created by people in custody.
The DOC strengthened its doula partnership with the Caribbean Women's Health Association which provides comprehensive prenatal, postnatal and birthing support to new and expectant mothers.
The Department’s Fatherhood Program, in partnership with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and SCO Family Services, saw an increased number of cohorts this year. This program is designed to help fathers who are currently incarcerated on Rikers Island reconnect with their children, strengthen family bonds, and develop essential parenting skills like effective co-parenting and emotional regulation. We are proud of the three cohorts of young fathers who graduated this year!

Civic Engagement:

The Department held its first “Boldest in Your Neighborhood” event in the Bronx to connect with New Yorkers and share information about careers in Correction.
The DOC’s Division of Programs and Community Partnerships, in partnership with NYC Human Resources Administration, began providing IDNYC cards to sentenced individuals at the Eric M. Taylor Center. Having a valid government-issued ID is essential for accessing public services, securing housing, and obtaining employment upon release.

Training and Recruitment:

The Department graduated nearly 300 new Correction Officers in 2025, the largest number of graduating recruits since before the pandemic.
In December, the Department swore in a class of approximately 300 Correction Officer recruits.
Dale Carnegie, one of the world’s leading human relations and leadership development organizations, proudly presented its prestigious Leadership Award to the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), recognizing the agency’s sustained commitment to leadership excellence, workforce development, and organizational impact across all levels.
Seven DOC leaders participated in the Prison Fellowship’s Warden Exchange in 2025, which is a national training program that examines and applies best practices for creating safer and more rehabilitative facilities.
Through a partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, new cohorts of college students interested in the Correction field began the Cadet Education, Empowerment for Development and Success (CEEDS) program. Additionally, we welcomed a new cohort to our intensive 2-year educational program for uniformed employees called Advanced Certificate in Corrections Management (ACCM) and launched the first cohort of a new educational program for personnel to complete a bachelor’s degree called Undergraduate Certificate in Correctional Leadership (UCCL).
DOC won a national honor for best recruitment video of the year. The video features NYC DOC recruits going through their training under the expert guidance of agency leaders.
In collaboration with the Essex County, New Jersey Department of Corrections, DOC began a training partnership designed to enhance the exchange of best practices, establish unified instructional standards, build trust with public safety partners, and maximize resources across the corrections community.

Health & Wellness:

In September, DOC launched a first-of-its-kind wellness app called Cordico to support staff mental health. The app is free, completely confidential and available exclusively to members of the Department.
The Department opened staff wellness centers at six facilities. The 24/7 centers offer staff a respite from the pressures of the job and are outfitted with fitness equipment, serenity lounges, meditation spaces and computers.
The Department held its 3rd annual Women’s Conference in March and its 2nd annual Men’s Conference in June, furthering Commissioner Maginley-Liddie’s commitment to staff wellness.

Improving Infrastructure and Visitor Experience:

Through a partnership between the Department’s Programs Division and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), family-friendly visit spaces were installed at the Benjamin Ward Visit Center. These spaces were designed to give children visiting their loved ones the opportunity to engage in supportive play. The center promotes positive interaction and bonding between parents and children. The newly refurbished, child-friendly visit center includes a new, lighted awning to protect visitors from rain and sun in the front entrance. The renovation also featured the installation of more than 1,000 state-of-the-art lockers for visitor belongings, replacing the old, outdated coin-operated models.
In 2025, the Rose M. Singer Center Programs team partnered with our Facilities Maintenance and Repair Division, Hour Children and the Osborne Association to re-envision the nursery. The space now features new furniture, freshly painted walls, updated toys and books, and a vibrant mural co-created by staff and people in custody.

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The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment while providing individuals in our care with a path to successfully re-enter their communities.