NYC found in contempt over ‘grave’ conditions at Rikers Island — with fed takeover increasingly likely

New York City was found in contempt Wednesday over “grave” conditions at Rikers Island — as a judge said she was “inclined” to order a federal takeover of the troubled jail complex.

The scathing 65-page contempt order by Manhattan federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain blasted the city for rising deaths of inmates, skyrocketing “uses of force” by correction officers, and a slew of other failures.

Swain wrote the worsening conditions – and the city continually falling short of correcting them – left a federal takeover, or receivership, increasingly likely.

“For those reasons, the Court is inclined to impose a receivership: namely, a remedy that will make the management of the use of force and safety aspects of the Rikers Island jails ultimately answerable directly to the Court,” she wrote.

Swain ordered the city and other parties to draw up plans for a receivership.

Rikers had nearly 6,600 inmates in custody at the start of November, up 4% from last year.