A New York City Council Committee on Criminal Justice hearing on June 25, 2026 examined long waits for competency restoration transfers from Rikers Island to state psychiatric care, including testimony that transfers average 5.4 months from a commitment order and that city agencies are exploring outpatient restoration pilots and court-reporting changes to shorten the backlog. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
# What’s happening
– Average transfer wait is 5.4 months from commitment order to an OMH hospital. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
– The Office of Court Administration (OCA) now requires clerks to share 7.30 evaluation reports within 24 hours. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
– City agencies are exploring outpatient competency restoration pilots and other measures to shorten transfer delays. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
# Why it matters
– People found unfit for trial who remain on Rikers wait months for restoration services. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
– Shorter waits free jail beds, let people access treatment sooner, and speed case processing. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
# Key details
– Hearing date and location: June 25, 2026, Hearing Room 2, City Hall. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=723
– Reported average transfer time: 5.4 months from commitment order to OMH hospital. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
– Adding the time to complete the 7.30 exam can push total wait closer to 7–8 months. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
– In earlier testimony (April 16, 2025), OMH reported 186 people found unfit were waiting on Rikers. Source (earlier meeting): https://youtu.be/9gAXJvm2W6Q&t=11572
– The Council and advocates have requested $1.7 million for an outpatient competency restoration pilot for 50–75 people. Source (external budget hearing): https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=11709
– Operational change: courts now require the clerk to share the 7.30 evaluation with prosecutor and defense within 24 hours. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
The city is reporting long waits between a judge’s commitment order and a transfer to the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) for competency restoration. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
**Office of Mental Health (OMH)**
– Role or jurisdiction: State agency that operates psychiatric hospitals for competency restoration.
– Action taken or responsibility: Receives court commitments for restoration and manages transfers from city jails.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Testimony cited an average 5.4-month transfer wait as of June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
City and court officials described steps intended to shorten delays. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
**Correctional Health Services (CHS)**
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency providing medical and mental health care inside city jails.
– Action taken or responsibility: Works with OMH and courts on competency evaluations and potential outpatient restoration models.
– Relevant numbers or dates: CHS participation in pilot planning was discussed at the June 25, 2026 hearing. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
Officials said they are exploring outpatient competency restoration models that would allow appropriate people to receive restoration treatment outside OMH hospitals. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
A defense attorney and other advocates testified that district attorneys can refuse court-ordered outpatient restoration because DA consent is required. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office reportedly declined to consent to proposed outpatient restorations in at least one reviewed list. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
**Office of Court Administration (OCA)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Manages court clerks and administrative court procedures.
– Action taken or responsibility: Changed procedures so clerks must share 7.30 evaluation reports within 24 hours with prosecution and defense.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Procedural change discussed at the June 25, 2026 hearing. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420
Advocates and officials offered other near-term recommendations to reduce backlog and speed case processing. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=10486
– Require Correctional Health Services to complete competency assessments within 14 calendar days. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=10213
– Fund mobile treatment teams, crisis respite centers, and residential capacity (Harbor House requested $3 million to add 60 beds). Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=10486
– Establish and fund an outpatient competency restoration pilot; the campaign to close Rikers requested $1.7 million for a 50–75 person pilot. Source (external to June 25 meeting): https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=11709
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) told a separate budget hearing it has not yet had conversations with OMH about an outpatient competency restoration program and did not report committed city funding for such a pilot. Source (external budget hearing): https://youtu.be/smpa5F-0p_8&t=11709
Earlier testimony from April 16, 2025 provided a snapshot of the waiting population on Rikers. Source (earlier meeting): https://youtu.be/9gAXJvm2W6Q&t=11572
– OMH reported about 186 people found unfit to proceed were waiting on Rikers as of that earlier hearing. Source (earlier meeting): https://youtu.be/9gAXJvm2W6Q&t=11572
Speakers at the June 25 hearing emphasized that multiple system changes are needed simultaneously: faster sharing of evaluation reports by courts, agency coordination to place people in appropriate facilities, DA cooperation for outpatient restoration where allowed, and funding for city-based restoration and re-entry services. Source: https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=7420; https://youtu.be/vFIC1XpbAJ8&t=8086
No new statewide statutory changes were reported at the June 25 hearing. External testimony from April 2025 noted proposals for jail-based restoration or state changes would be required for some options. Source (earlier meeting): https://youtu.be/9gAXJvm2W6Q&t=11572
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