A federal judge has ruled New York City in contempt for failing to address dangerous conditions in its jails, particularly at Rikers Island. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain cited “unconstitutional danger” to detainees and jail staff, stemming from poor supervision, excessive force, and unsafe conditions.

A judge's scathing ruling Wednesday moves New York City's troubled Rikers Island jail complex a step closer to a federal takeover. Judge Laura Taylor Swain found the city and the Department of Correction in civil contempt over 18 separate claims of failing to rectify use of force and safety issues.

The judge found that conditions have only continued to worsen at the jail complex, setting up a potential federal takeover.

A federal judge said that she was leaning toward taking the extreme measure of stripping the city of its control of Rikers Island after ruling on Wednesday that the Department of Correction violated over a dozen court orders by failing to keep detainees safe in the troubled jail complex.

The judge said the city had placed incarcerated people in “unconstitutional danger” by failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders pertaining to security, staffing, supervision, use of force and the safety of young detainees.

A U.S. judge on Wednesday said she was leaning toward ordering a federal takeover of New York City's Rikers Island jail complex, after finding the city had failed to improve violent conditions that put inmates and staff at risk.

A federal judge held New York City in contempt of court Wednesday for failing to improve conditions at Rikers and other jails — and her scathing ruling says she’s now “inclined” to place the entire correctional system under federal control.