Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society appeared on The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss the ongoing crisis in city jails and what actions must be taken by prosecutors and judges to help mitigate the humanitarian crisis.

Luongo called on prosecutors and judges to use their power to not request or set bail, enabling New Yorkers to avoid being held on Rikers Island pre-trial. The Department of Corrections has simply not been able to keep incarcerated people safe, at least twelve people have died in their custody already this year.

“Judges have to bear witness, I’d like the chief judge to go see what is happening at Rikers, I would like line district attorneys, not just the DAs, but the people who are asking for bail to go and see what is happening,” said Luongo. “We need intervention to decarcreate, we need the political will to recognize the crisis.”

Listen to the full segment below.