Jonathan Lippman

Elected officials want to use the now-closed Queens Detention Complex to house detainees from Queens.

A yearlong study on Rikers Island argues for the complex to be closed and razed to the ground.

"We must close the jail complex on Rikers Island. Period," the independent commission wrote.

Tenants will receive free legal lawyers or counseling under the $93 million initiative.

Documents show an ongoing study of closing the jail, including something called 'Project Sean Connery.'

The Council speaker also called for reforms to the criminal justice system, including Rikers Island.

Policy shift comes after suicide of a teen held three years on minor charge that was later dropped.  

The state's Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics told James Rouse's brother not to speak to the media.

The $17.8 million program would place low-risk individuals under supervised release.

Judges should have more of a role when defendants are police officers,  Judge Jonathan Lippman said.

From legalizing upstate casinos to lifting the retirement age for state judges, DNAinfo has you covered.

Proposition 6 on Tuesday's ballot asks voters to increase the retirement age by a decade, to 80.

The county's chief criminal judge was also replaced in the shakeup.

Court administrators held a ceremony Wednesday to mark the official opening of the new court.

Andrew Cuomo officially became governor at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. He immediately ordered concrete barriers in front of the state Capitol moved.