NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s new jails commissioner and officials charged with overseeing city lockups have sparred over a decision to house mentally ill inmates in solitary confinement last month.
New York City Board of Correction members asked Commissioner Joseph Ponte (PAHNT’) Tuesday why he moved as many as 47 mentally ill inmates into 23-hour confinement on June 13.
They said some of the inmates didn’t get their medications, had seizure disorders and were on psychotropic drugs that made them vulnerable in the non-air conditioned cells.
They repeatedly asked the commissioner if he knew moving the inmates without mental health clinicians’ clearance violated so-called minimum standards.
Under the city charter, the board’s minimum standards are law.
Ponte said inmates were moved in an attempt to quell violence on Rikers Island.
