#Blacks in Law Enforcement of America backs Eric Adams on solitary confinement in NYC jails

A black law enforcement organization backed Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ position on revamping solitary confinement in New York City jails amid a push by lawmakers to ban the practice.

“Our elected officials cannot have it both ways; you should have the same attitude about crime within the jails by incarcerated residents as you do in society,” said Damon Jones, New York representative of Blacks in Law Enforcement of America.

The organization is backing Adams’ position on punitive segregation in jails though its members recognize “the need for more conscious and humane correctional policies towards incarcerated residents,” the statement said.

The group cited the New York Post’s reporting on a spike assaults against Department of Correction staff as part of its justification for backing punitive segregation.

“Our correctional facilities are a microcosm of society,” Jones, who works in Westchester County’s Department of Correction, said in the statement.

“When people break laws in society, you want them to go to jail. But when people break the rules and regulations of the prison, you instead give them PlayStations, laptops, and IPads. These actions do not send a message to our residents, civilians, or officers that our facilities are safe and secure.”

Adams said earlier this month he will immediately undo departing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s actions against solitary.

“The mayor announced, Dec. 31 he’s going to empty out punitive segregation,” Adams said when introducing Louis Molina as new correction commissioner.

“They better enjoy that one-day reprieve because Jan. 1, they’re going back into punitive segregation if they commit a violent act.”

In response, 29 members of the City Council sent a letter asking Adams to reverse his position. They also asked for a law that would ban the use of solitary, saying it is considered a form of torture by human rights organizations.