By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 30, 2026) — New York City officials announced the permanent closure of the North Infirmary Command at Rikers Island, marking another step in the city’s long-term plan to phase out the jail complex and transition to a borough-based correctional system.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the closure reflects the city’s effort to move away from aging facilities while expanding rehabilitative and medical services for incarcerated individuals. City officials described the move as part of a broader strategy to modernize the correctional system while improving conditions for those in custody.

The Department of Correction has transferred the former infirmary facility, along with portions of two other vacant buildings, to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. The agency will develop a master plan for future uses of the Rikers Island property, with officials citing possibilities that include renewable energy infrastructure and other public projects centered on environmental justice.

The North Infirmary Command most recently housed approximately 223 detainees requiring hospital-level medical care. Those services have been relocated following the opening of new therapeutic housing and specialty medical units. Earlier this year, the city began transferring medically complex detainees to a new 104-bed specialty care unit at Bellevue Hospital, with additional medical facilities planned at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and North Central Bronx.

Despite the latest milestone, significant challenges remain in meeting New York State’s legal requirement to close Rikers Island by August 2027. Construction of four smaller borough-based jails continues, but officials have acknowledged the facilities are unlikely to be completed before the deadline.

Current jail populations also exceed the combined capacity of the planned replacement facilities, underscoring the logistical hurdles facing the transition. City leaders have reiterated their commitment to ultimately closing Rikers Island while continuing to evaluate how best to meet legal obligations and public safety needs.