Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Defense attorneys tell Council false refusals and multi‑hour waits block access to counsel at Rikers
Summary
Multiple public defenders testified that fabricated 'refusals' and multi‑hour waits routinely prevent timely attorney‑client meetings at Rikers; DOC said it is improving tracking and will pilot Visitor Express tracking for attorneys and expand confidential spaces.
Defense attorneys and public defenders told the joint New York City Council hearing on Dec. 4 that attorney access to incarcerated clients at Rikers Island is regularly obstructed by lengthy waits, inadequate confidential space and practices they described as false or fabricated refusals.
"This deliberate interference must end," said a defender summarizing repeated incidents in which correctional staff recorded a…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
