May 12, 2022
WHEREAS, developing and implementing the plan for reform required by the Nunez consent decree requires a multi-faceted and aggressive inter-agency approach; and
WHEREAS, all parties to the Nunez litigation and the Court have called for full City Hall support to comply with the consent decree; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, this Administration has been committed to taking bold and unprecedented action to remedy the problems that have plagued Rikers Island for decades; and
WHEREAS, the efforts of the Department of Correction have been, and will continue to be, enhanced by the full commitment of City Hall leadership and all relevant City agencies;
NOW, THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Establishment of the Task Force. There is hereby established a Rikers Island Interagency Task Force (the “Task Force”).
(a) The Task Force shall consist of representatives from the Department of Correction, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Law Department, the Office of Labor Relations, the Office of Management and Budget, the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and the Department of Design & Construction. Each agency shall, within 1 day of this Order, designate at least one senior leader to serve as its representative on the Task Force.
(b) The Task Force shall be chaired by the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall and the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety.
(c) The Chairs of the Task Force shall add additional agencies to the Task Force, as necessary, to accomplish its objectives.
(d) The Task Force shall consult with the Department of Investigation, the District Attorney’s Offices, the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, and the Office of Court Administration, where appropriate, to accomplish its objectives.
§ 2. Duties of the Task Force.
(a) Working with all relevant City agencies, the Task Force shall take direct, concrete, and immediate action to resolve the issues identified by the Monitoring Team in the Nunez litigation and to accomplish the objectives of the implementation/action plan in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
(b) The Task Force shall convene on a weekly basis to address any and all issues related to the implementation/action plan and the concerns of the Court, the Monitoring Team, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Nunez plaintiffs.
(c) The Task Force shall ensure that every relevant City agency prioritizes all Rikers-related matters brought to their attention and cooperates fully.
§ 3. This Order shall take effect immediately.
Eric Adams
Mayor