Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Stanley Richards, a former inmate turned corrections official and reform advocate, as New York City’s Department of Correction commissioner. Richards served time on Rikers Island and in state prison in the late 1980s and would be the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the department. His appointment comes as a federal judge has placed Rikers under additional oversight and named a remediation manager to oversee reforms. The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association urged that safety and security be prioritized as Richards prepares to begin on Feb. 16.
Mamdani Appoints Former Inmate Stanley Richards As NYC Corrections Commissioner Amid Federal Oversight Of Rikers
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrives at the subway station in the Queens borough to go to City Hall in New York, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.(AP Images)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday named Stanley Richards — a onetime inmate who became a prison reform advocate and correctional administrator — as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. The appointment comes as the city’s jail system remains under heightened federal oversight.
Richards, who was convicted of robbery in the late 1980s, served roughly two and a half years on Rikers Island followed by about four and a half years in state prison before his release in 1991. If confirmed in the role, he will be the first person who was formerly incarcerated to lead the department.
"Stanley will make history in this role as the first ever formerly incarcerated person to serve as commissioner," Mamdani said, adding that he will rely on Richards as his administration works to build "a city where justice is at the heart of our corrections system."
In his first remarks as commissioner-designate, Richards emphasized rehabilitation over a punishment-centered approach and expressed alignment with Mamdani’s reform agenda. "Today we turn the page and we start a new era under Mayor Mamdani," he said, signaling a shift toward programs and services for people in custody.
Richards also cited his institutional experience, including prior service as first deputy commissioner of programs and operations at the Department of Correction and as vice chair of the Board of Correction’s Task Force To Close Rikers. Supporters point to that background as evidence he understands both the lived experience of incarceration and the administrative challenges of running a correctional system.
The appointment arrives as New York City’s jails continue to face intensified federal scrutiny. A federal judge recently appointed an outside remediation manager to supervise reforms at Rikers Island after years marked by violence, chronic staffing shortages and court findings that city leadership failed to remedy dangerous conditions. Rikers had been slated for eventual closure under prior plans, which remain subject to ongoing review amid legal oversight and policy debates.
The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA) reacted cautiously. COBA President Benny Boscio warned that safety must be prioritized over political considerations, saying the jails "cannot and will not operate as safely as possible if the concerns of our members are brushed aside," and urging Richards to demonstrate a clear commitment to security for staff and people in custody.
Mamdani’s office told reporters Richards is expected to assume the post on Feb. 16. Observers say the key question will be whether Richards’ reform-focused background and personal experience translate into measurable improvements in safety, staffing and conditions inside New York City’s jails.
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