Prosecutor: NYC Might Face Legal Action Over Rikers

A federal prosecutor in New York says he's ready to take legal action against New York City to force long-overdue reforms at its problem-plagued Rikers Island jail complex.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara made the threat Monday after a published report said the city had given the prosecutor incomplete and inaccurate information about inmate fights. Bharara said legal action may be necessary to force the city to change.

His office issued a scathing report in early August, saying the city's juvenile jails were extremely violent and unsafe.

On Monday, he cited The New York Times report saying that hundreds of inmate fights had been omitted from department statistics as the city claimed conditions were improving. He said it does not instill confidence that the city will quickly meet constitutional obligations.