NYC Mayor Eric Adams vetoes ban on solitary confinement and bill expanding police transparency

Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed a ban on solitary confinement in city jails that was overwhelmingly passed by the city council.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed a ban on solitary confinement in city jails that was overwhelmingly passed by the city council. He also vetoed legislation to require more transparency on data from the NYPD.

"Vetoing this bill will keep those in our custody and our correction officers safer," said Adams in a statement Friday after vetoing the solitary confinement legislation.

Adams said if the bill were to take effect, "the Department of Correction would no longer be able to protect people in custody, or the union workers charged with their safety, from violent individuals."

The city council could still override Adams' veto with a vote of two-thirds of all council members, or 34 votes.

The council passed the legislation concerning solitary confinement on Dec. 20, with a 39-7 vote. The legislation, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, would require all people in city custody to have at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time in shared spaces and would limit solitary confinement to a temporary four-hour period after an incident or confrontation.