On 5/1/26, an article appeared in AM NY titled “To reduce jail population and close Rikers, New York City must invest in probation”, in which UPOA President Powell responds to Mayor Mamdani’s interest to close Rikers Island. President Powell states “If the goal is to safely reduce incarceration, probation is the frontline agency that makes that possible. We are the ones helping people return to their communities, maintain employment, access services, and avoid reoffending. A strong probation department is the backbone of any decarceration strategy……For years, the City has relied on probation officers to do more with less. Less pay. Less staffing. Less support. And yet expectations continue to grow, especially as policymakers push for alternatives to incarceration…..If the Mayor wants to close Rikers Island, he must invest in the agency that will make that closure possible. That means addressing pay equity and bringing probation salaries in line with other law enforcement agencies.” To read the full article click here