New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the opening of a $241 million medical and therapeutic unit at Bellevue Hospital designed to provide intensive care for inmates with serious health conditions.
The 104-bed facility, the first of three planned “Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units,” will transfer clinically vulnerable detainees from Rikers Island into a hospital environment with direct access to cardiology, oncology, and neurology services.
“This facility is how we begin to close Rikers Island—not with promises, but with action,” Mamdani said. “For too long, people with serious medical needs have been left to suffer in a system that was never designed to care for them.”
“Today, we are building something different: a system that delivers real care, treats people with dignity, and makes our city safer for everyone—incarcerated people, corrections officers, and all New Yorkers.”
The unit occupies Bellevue’s second floor and includes therapy rooms, recreational spaces, and abundant natural light.
Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards emphasized the importance of balancing security with patient care.
“Providing high-quality healthcare is among the most essential services we can offer,” Richards said, according to The Post Millennial. “While this facility may be small, its impact will extend far beyond its walls, helping to shape a new model of correctional care that will open new possibilities for the future.”
The unit is intended for inmates who need ongoing medical supervision but do not require hospitalization.
Officials said it will house critically vulnerable detainees from Rikers’ North Infirmary Command, which is slated for closure.
Conditions at Rikers have come under scrutiny after multiple medical emergencies and deaths in custody, including 15 inmate fatalities last year, according to Gothamist.
NYC Health + Hospitals President Mitchell Katz noted that onsite specialty care reduces the risks associated with transporting patients from Rikers to hospitals.
“The Outposted Therapeutic Housing Unit at Bellevue will make it easier for patients with serious medical conditions to access specialty care,” Katz said.
Two additional units are planned for Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx Hospital, together adding 340 beds for inmates with complex medical and mental health needs.
City leaders emphasized that these facilities are part of a broader plan to phase out Rikers Island, which currently holds roughly 7,000 inmates, many awaiting trial.
The borough-based replacement jails will collectively house around 4,000 detainees, reflecting the city’s goal of reducing its jail population.
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga called the Bellevue unit “a monumental step toward righting historical wrongs” in the correctional healthcare system.
Officials highlighted the collaboration between NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Correction, saying careful planning and swift intervention can improve outcomes for the city’s most vulnerable detainees.
The opening of the Bellevue unit raises concerns over taxpayer costs and public safety, while the city pushes forward with its plan to close Rikers Island.
Conservative critics argue that such facilities may expand costs without addressing broader safety concerns, emphasizing that reform should prioritize both medical treatment and accountability for inmates and the city’s correctional policies.
As New York City moves ahead with these expensive initiatives, critics warn that without stricter oversight and a focus on security, taxpayer dollars may fund programs that leave the public at risk.
Many contend that meaningful reform must balance care for inmates with the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers.
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