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Stringer, Mayor's Office At Odds Over Violence Rates At Rikers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There have been changes at Rikers Island, and a review has been conducted by city Comptroller Scott Stringer.

"The budget's up 12 percent, but the inmate population is the lowest it's been in generations - down 33 percent," he said.

As 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported, Stringer questioned why -- even with an almost 1 on 1 officer to inmate ratio -- violence is up 25 percent in the past fiscal year.

The mayor's office quoted different stats saying use of force injuries are down 36 percent over the past 10 months.

They both agree that more than 40 percent of the population suffers some kind of mental illness.

 

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