2016: The Lippman Commission

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito convenes an independent commission made up of a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including Herb Sturtz, who championed the 70s-era closure plan. The 27-member delegation, chaired by Judge Jonathan Lippman, is tasked with examining the city’s justice system and, more specifically, figuring out what to do about Rikers. They conclude that closing Rikers is a “moral imperative,” citing its isolation, inhumane conditions, and “deep seated culture of violence.” The commission’s official report, released a year later, outlines a 10-year plan for phasing out the use of jail facilities on the Island and building borough-based facilities.