Cuomo Won't Let Queens DA Prosecute Rikers Cases

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has vetoed legislation to transfer jurisdiction to prosecute crimes at New York City's jail from the Bronx district attorney to the DA in Queens.

The bill, which passed the Senate and Assembly almost unanimously, was backed by the guards' union at Rikers Island arguing they would be treated more fairly.

Cuomo says the switch would be "unprecedented and unconstitutional,'' that Rikers is located in Bronx County and opposition has been significant from both civil rights groups and the district attorneys in both jurisdictions.

Rikers Island is located in the East River. The 10-jail facility averages 11,000 inmates a night and produces about 1,000 criminal cases a year.

This month, federal authorities probing guards' use of force against teenage inmates sued the city to institute reforms.