Zachary Katsenelson (Independent Rikers Commission) on six concrete council actions to reduce jail population
Katsenelson presents six recommendations: mandate NYPD database access for DAs, require 48-hour evidence uploads, fully staff discovery liaison units, set deadlines for data management systems, set OCME forensic testing deadlines, and require 14-day competency assessments.
Hi, I'm Zachary Katsenelson with the Independent Rikers Commission.
Thanks for the opportunity to testify.
Thank you especially for holding this hearing.
It's a little-known area, but with profound ramifications.
Our commission has estimated that by speeding up cases just a reasonable amount, some of the goals that you mentioned, you'd have 1,400, 1,700 fewer people in Rikers on a given day.
Imagine what that would mean for Rikers, for the ability to manage the population, keep people safe.
Imagine what that would mean for crime victims to actually get answers and accountability that much sooner.
No harm to public safety.
It's just reaching the conclusion of a case sooner.
I want to talk about six things briefly where I think the council could act to help.
One is requiring the NYPD to give DAs access to their databases, make it mandatory.
Two, require NYPD officers and their supervisors to upload evidence within 48 hours.
Give an explicit deadline, make sure supervisors then, maybe they have 48 hours more to approve things, move it out the door.
Three, require NYPD to fully staff the discovery liaison units.
What we heard today is that the requests have been made and they have not been granted by the DA's offices.
Fourth, set a deadline by which those data management systems will actually be implemented.
We've had years of...
No implementation.
It's time to actually set a deadline where by it.
actually happens for DAs and defenders.
Set reasonable deadlines for the OCME.
For medical examiner, they'll actually turn around forensic testing.
We've been hearing that it takes up to nine months, for instance, to get autopsy reports.
These hold-up cases, it's not acceptable.
Find out what's reasonable and get the resources there to make sure it happens.
And last, require correctional health services to...
Finish competency assessments for people that may be so mentally ill they can't stand trial.
Have that happen within 14 days, 14 calendar days.
These are reasonable steps that will make a major difference.
Thank you so much.
I'll be happy to share them directly with you.
Of course.
Thank you.
I was looking for it.
If you submitted it, but thank you for that.