Public Advocate responds to Mayor Adams' halt on solitary ban

WNYC News

Mayor Adams has halted parts of a new law that bans solitary confinement in city jails.

His emergency order stops the Department of Correction from enacting certain parts of the law, which requires a four-hour time limit on holding prisoners in isolation.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams introduced the law that was approved by City Council last year. He said the council can challenge Adams' emergency order in court.

"My office is looking into suing as well," he told WNYC. "We're trying to find what all of our options are."

Williams criticized the mayor for signing the order in the middle of the night on Saturday. The ban was supposed to take effect Sunday.

Adams said the emergency order is temporary, and that his team plans to review the law with the federal judge overseeing mandated reforms at the city's jails.

The city's management of Rikers Island is already under review by a federal monitor.