City Council holds hearing on lack of Rikers' inmates appearing in court
According to criminal defense attorneys, they were told their clients refused to go to court by the Department of Corrections. However, their clients say they were never offered a ride.
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A City Council hearing is underway on the transportation of those detained on Rikers Island to court.
Council Member Carlina Rivera is the chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice and pointed out that the hearing comes as the latest federal monitor report "reveals violent, life-altering incidents in the last two weeks at Rikers."
According to criminal defense attorneys, they were told their clients refused to go to court by the Department of Corrections. However, their clients say they were never offered a ride.
Rivera highlighted a survey, conducted by the New York County of Defender Services, indicating 58% of attorneys who responded said that at least one time in the last two months, their client disputed the Department of Corrections claim that they refused to go to court.
