CLOSING RIKERS

Expand dedicated housing for individuals with serious mental illness

By 2020, the City will triple the number of dedicated mental health housing units to a total of twelve. Approximately 11% of the NYC jail population has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, and almost one third of the population has some kind of psychiatric diagnosis. Since 2015, the City has opened dedicated housing units that offer enhanced staffing and clinical care to treat those with serious mental illness – this model has been shown to reduce violent incidents by 76%.