City authorities and supporters cheer substantial $50 million allotment for mental health and security enhancements; urge Mayor Adams to promote the shutdown of Rikers Island correctional facility.
New York City Accelerates Efforts to Close Rikers Island Jail Complex
New York City is stepping up its efforts to close the Rikers Island jail complex, although it is anticipated that the city will miss the 2027 deadline set by city law for this closure. The adopted FY26 budget includes significant new funding—over $50 million—for mental health and safety initiatives linked to this effort.
The FY26 budget of $115.9 billion adds $13.7 million on top of prior allocations aimed at public safety and alternatives to incarceration, reflecting recommendations from the Independent Rikers Commission to reduce incarceration safely, focusing on mental health and addiction support.
Speaker Adrienne Adams celebrated the $50 million investment in mental health and safety initiatives in the fiscal year 2026 New York City budget. Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala stated that too many New Yorkers struggling with mental health challenges are inappropriately funneled into the justice system.
The City Council and advocates have long pushed for these investments to reduce the jail population and improve conditions. The new funds aim to break down barriers such as delayed supportive housing units and insufficient community-based mental health care, which are crucial for stabilizing justice-involved individuals and reducing recidivism.
The investments include funds for mental health response teams, crisis centers, and anti-recidivism initiatives. The Adams administration's budget also includes investments in expanded shelter capacity, psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and support for homeless youth.
However, some members of the City Council, including Speaker Adams, express concern that Mayor Adams is not moving the Rikers reform process along as quickly as desired. The city comptroller has pressed Mayor Adams’ administration to expedite reporting and activation of specialized Outposted Treatment Housing Units (OTxHUs), emphasizing urgency to meet legal obligations and improve inmate care.
Despite reduced uniformed staff numbers, opening OTxHUs like the Bellevue unit faces delays due to administrative and design hurdles requiring city submissions and approvals, which have stalled progress on placing inmates in appropriate medical settings outside Rikers. Two inmate deaths at Rikers within 78 minutes in June prompted an investigation from the Department of Correction.
Over half of the inmates currently held at Rikers have been diagnosed with a mental illness, with one in five being diagnosed with a serious mental health condition. Council Member Linda Lee stated that Rikers has become one of the largest providers of psychiatric care in the country. First Deputy Press Secretary for the Mayor Liz Garcia writes that Mayor Adams believes that the best way to keep people out of jail is through upstream solutions that educate and engage individuals before they make contact with the justice system.
In summary, while the legal deadline to close Rikers by 2027 appears unlikely to be met, the FY26 budget substantially increases funding for mental health, safety, and community support programs integral to reducing reliance on Rikers. Continued implementation and administrative steps remain critical to achieve closure and improve conditions for justice-involved individuals in New York City.
[1] New York City budget adds $50 million for jail reform [2] NYC budget includes $50 million for mental health and safety initiatives [3] NYC budget bolsters jail reform efforts with $50 million investment [4] NYC budget boosts jail reform efforts with $50 million investment [5] NYC comptroller presses Adams to expedite Rikers reform
[6] New York City allocates $50 million in FY26 budget for mental health initiatives related to Rikers Island closure[7] Deputy Speaker Ayala criticizes funneling of New Yorkers with mental health challenges into justice system[8] Funding for mental health response teams, crisis centers, and anti-recidivism initiatives includes $50 million in NYC budget[9] The budget backs expanded shelter capacity, psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and support for homeless youth[10] NYC set to increase investment in education-and-self-development programs aimed at personal-growth, helping individuals avoid career-development hurdles and policy-and-legislation entanglements[11] Car-accidents preventions and skills-training programs to receive a portion of the $115.9 billion budget[12] Schools and colleges in New York City may receive increased funding for education and policies addressing general-news topics like war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and accidents[13] Fires, natural disasters, and environmental issues to receive attention and funding as part of the $115.9 billion budget[14] Council Members, advocates, and city officials call for improved care for Rikers inmates facing issues like delayed supportive housing units and insufficient community-based mental health care[15] CBD oil could be considered as part of a therapies-and-treatments program for addressing mental health needs at Rikers Island[16] Stakeholders search for effective job-search resources and support to help justice-involved individuals transition back into society[17] Addressing policy-and-legislation concerning health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health initiatives for all New Yorkers, not just those currently incarcerated, will contribute to overall personal-growth and development in the city[18] Science and new technologies deterring war-and-conflicts could be supported through collaborations between the city and research institutions, contributing to a safer and more prosperous city[19] New York City should consider implementing continuing education and training programs for police officers, promoting de-escalation and best practices when interacting with those in crisis, aiming to improve relations within the community[20] **Mayor Adams' focus on upstream solutions encourages a holistic approach to addressing issues, including career-development, policy-and-legislation, and personal-growth initiatives, to create a safer and more equitable New York City for all.
