Close Rikers Czar Dana Kaplan

Dana Kaplan, newly appointed Close Rikers Czar by Mayor Mamdani, joins The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss the urgent and complex task of closing Rikers Island by 2027—a deadline now widely acknowledged as unattainable due to massive construction delays and cost overruns. The four borough-based jails meant to replace Rikers are not expected to be completed until 2032, with Brooklyn’s jail on track for 2029. Kaplan, a veteran criminal justice reformer with decades of experience under the de Blasio administration, emphasizes that closing Rikers is not just about new buildings but about transforming the entire pretrial justice system. She highlights key strategies to reduce the jail population, including speeding up case processing, expanding pretrial services, and improving mental health care, all of which she asserts will enhance public safety rather than compromise it. She also addresses community concerns about new jails being built in neighborhoods like Chinatown and Queens, arguing that proximity to courthouses reduces travel burdens and improves system efficiency, while committing to mitigate construction impacts through community engagement and neighborhood investments.