Jails and Crime: What's the Deal?

New Yorkers are worried about crime. They are happy that the new police commissioner is trying to fix the problem. But, some people in power want to close down Rikers Island, the city's main jail. They think jails are bad and want to let more people out. They believe that jails do not help keep people safe. This is not true, though. Jails keep criminals off the streets. This means they can't hurt anyone else. It's common sense. A recent City Council meeting showed how some people think. A council member said he was worried about the number of people in jail. He and others wanted to let more people out, even though half of those released during COVID committed more crimes. This is not a good idea. The Police Benevolent Association and other groups should speak up. They should oppose the plan to close Rikers and replace it with smaller jails. These new jails would hold only half as many people. This is a problem because many minor crimes are committed by people who have done serious crimes before. If they are caught, judges can keep them in jail before their trial. But only if there is enough jail space.

The top Democratic candidates for mayor do not want to provide more jail space. They want alternatives to jail. One candidate even wants to hire more cops but also supports a law that lets people out of jail. This law has led to more crime. After it was passed, crime in New York City went up by 20%. Robberies went up by 34%. Some people think that closing Rikers will help. They think smaller jails will be better. But, a former police commissioner says this is a mistake. He thinks smaller jails will make it easier for gangs to stick together. He also says that jails need to be rebuilt. They need to be managed better. The current administration cannot handle Rikers. It needs help from the federal government to keep inmates and staff safe. New Yorkers who care about safety need to speak up. They need to say no to plans that will let more criminals out. Without enough jail space, the police commissioner's plans won't work. Criminals will keep hurting people. This is a big problem.

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