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Q&A
Delays in activating outposted therapeutic units at Bellevue Hospital
2:34:07
ยท
4 min
Council Member Restler questions DOC officials about the delay in activating 104 newly created therapeutic beds at Bellevue Hospital, despite the facility reportedly being ready for a month. The discussion reveals conflicting information and concerns about DOC's responsiveness to detainees' medical needs.
- Over 37% of detainees who requested medical appointments in 2023 were not taken to their scheduled appointments
- DOC officials claim the Bellevue facility is not ready due to ongoing construction and security issues
- Restler cites conflicting testimony from Correctional Health Services about the facility's readiness
- The debate highlights communication issues between different agencies involved in the project
Lincoln Restler
2:34:07
Okay.
2:34:10
Do you know when Deputy Mayor Parker is leaving?
2:34:13
Do you know when his last day is?
2:34:15
No.
2:34:15
Do you know if he may be signing the executive order relating to Rikers Island and the return of ICE?
2:34:21
No.
2:34:22
Okay.
2:34:22
Just asking questions, help her to get on the record.
2:34:24
I appreciate the responses.
2:34:25
I'll shift gears to one of the topics that I care deeply about, outposted therapeutic units.
2:34:33
In 2023, so just last year, a year ago, one third, over a third of all detainees on Rikers who requested a trip to the doctor, so thirty seven percent of detainees who requested a trip to the doctor, were never taken to their scheduled appointment.
2:34:48
DOC staff failed over 35,200 times, 35,200 times to get a detainee to their medical appointment that was scheduled with the correctional health services.
2:35:00
And as we all know, over 55, I think fifty five point six percent of detainees have a mental health diagnosis, a RADH designation on Rikers Island, the largest psychiatric facility in the state.
2:35:10
The lack of care that has been provided to DOC detainees has resulted in deaths and serious injuries.
2:35:17
Given the inability of the Department of Correction to coordinate care on Rikers Island, could you please explain why the 104 newly created therapeutic beds at Bellevue see it with the certificate of occupancy provided have not yet been filled with DOC detainees.
2:35:37
Oh there's some musical chairs depending on where the question was going.
2:35:40
But Alex is on the hook.
2:35:42
Thank you miss Maldonado.
Alex Maldonado
2:35:46
Good afternoon everyone.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:35:47
Wants to be sworn in.
UNKNOWN
2:35:48
I have to throw
Diana Ayala
2:35:48
you in.
UNKNOWN
2:35:49
Will you raise your right hand?
2:35:51
Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before this committee and respond honestly to council member questions?
Alex Maldonado
2:35:58
Yes I do.
2:36:00
Thanks.
2:36:00
Thank you.
2:36:01
My name is Alex Maldonado and I am an assistant commissioner with the Department of Correction and I oversee the borough based jails program which includes the outposted units in Bellevue, Woodhall and North Central Bronx Hospitals.
2:36:12
I believe your question sir was why are the 104 beds in Bellevue remaining empty?
2:36:17
The department has not received turnover of that facility.
2:36:21
The facility has a temporary occupancy, certificate of occupancy, which means that there is still ongoing construction efforts going to complete final punch list items.
Lincoln Restler
2:36:33
I have to say, Assistant Commissioner, that is in direct conflict with the testimony of Correctional Health Services yesterday before the hospital committee.
2:36:39
I went to that hearing, I asked these questions.
2:36:42
They said, for the record explicitly, for a month, the facility is absolutely ready for DOC detainees to be inhabited in this moment in time.
2:36:49
So we have 104 vacant beds that you were refusing to fill despite the critical need for acute care and services for people who are facing the most serious health needs.
2:36:58
You're failing to get them to their medical appointments on Rikers Island.
2:37:01
They can be moved to Bellevue today.
2:37:03
Why are you choosing not to do so?
Alex Maldonado
2:37:04
The facility is not ready for PICs to or people in custody to occupy.
2:37:09
There are construction efforts that are ongoing.
2:37:11
The emergency generator has not been installed.
2:37:14
There are security programming that needs door controls, things like that that are essential for keeping our individuals in custody and our staff members safe.
Lincoln Restler
2:37:22
And When does DOC plan to to activate this facility?
Alex Maldonado
2:37:26
When the facility is turned over to us,
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:37:27
we will be
Lincoln Restler
2:37:28
able You have a timeline.
Alex Maldonado
2:37:29
We have not been provided
Lincoln Restler
2:37:30
This was supposed to be completed in 2022, then it was 2023, then it was 2024, now it's 2025.
2:37:35
The facility is ready.
2:37:36
The Correctional Health Services leadership testified under oath yesterday that the facility is ready for occupation today, that it's been ready for a month and that DOC has refused and that there is no response from your agency about what's going on.
2:37:49
Now you're saying there's still additional issues that need to be resolved, you're giving no timeline for when people are going to be moved.
Alex Maldonado
2:37:54
Sir, would ask CHS what that timeline is, but I invite you to the facility to see whether or not it is habitable by
Lincoln Restler
2:37:59
Let's go.
2:38:00
Are doing after this?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:38:02
And also for the record, the State Commission Correction has not commissioned it as a facility.
2:38:07
That process has not been completed either.