The Rikers Island jail complex will be closed, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday afternoon.
“New York City has always been better than Rikers Island. I am proud to chart a course for our city that lives up to this reality,” de Blasio said. “Our success in reducing crime and reforming our criminal justice system has paved a path off Rikers Island and toward community-based facilities capable of meeting our criminal justice goals.”
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