The Opinion Pages  | LETTER 

Rikers and the Bronx D.A.

To the Editor:
Re “The Bronx D.A. Responds” (letter, Sept. 30):
Three years ago, I met with Robert T. Johnson and the Department of Correction about the practice of selective prosecution. We agreed on a streamlined process to ensure swift and effective prosecution. That agreement was almost immediately disregarded, and the policy of not prosecuting felonious assaults by inmates at Rikers Island continues to this day.
While Mr. Johnson says there is a backlog of 100-plus complaints, which number pales in comparison with the number of assaults on inmates and staff members, he doesn’t indicate how many cases were prosecuted by his office in the year since Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo vetoed the bill seeking to remedy his neglect.
If the Bronx D.A. can’t do the job, then jurisdiction over Rikers should be given to the Queens County district attorney’s office, as we’ve advocated.
NORMAN SEABROOK
President, Correction Officers
Benevolent Association
New York
A version of this letter appears in print on October 12, 2015, on page A18 of the New York edition with the headline: Rikers and the Bronx D.A. Today's Paper|Subscribe