Testimony on Reducing Violence Among Young People in NYC Jails

The most effective way to reduce violence for young people at Rikers it to reduce the number of young people at Rikers. In spite of federal oversight for more than half of a decade, conditions at Rikers have only declined. The city must meaningfully invest in evidence-based solutions that curb violence, and heal traumatized survivors of violence so that they do not become perpetrators of violence. Reducing youth violence at Rikers through decarceration and improving conditions at Rikers is a public safety imperative.