CELL-ING HIGH

Rikers’ $oars as jailbirds decline

The number of inmates on Rikers Island has reached its lowest point in three decades — but the cost of housing each one has skyrocketed to $132,000 a year.

City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who released the figures Thursday, also noted there are now more Department of Correction officers than there are inmates.

With federal monitors demanding reforms, City Hall boosted jail-system spending by nearly $200 million over the past two years, reaching $1.3 billion in fiscal 2016, which ended Sept. 30.

As the population declined to a 33-year low of 9,790 and personnel were added, the average cost per inmate jumped from $96,000 a year in fiscal 2014 to $112,000 in 2015 and $132,000 in 2016.

Stringer, a possible candidate for mayor in 2017, said the infusion of resources has failed to stem the tide of violent infractions by inmates.

“The fact is, today’s jails are failing to protect inmates and officers alike, while soaking up more and more tax dollars every year,” he said. “By many measures, New York City’s criminaljustice system is moving backwards, not forward.”

His report noted that the Department of Correction now em- ploys slightly more officers — 9,832 in fiscal 2016 — than it houses inmates.

“[It’s] astounding that the city now has a 1:1 officer-to-inmate ratio,” said Maria Doulis, a budget analyst at the Citizens Budget Commission.

Using figures available for other cities in 2015, New York City’s cost per inmate of $112,000 that year was more than twice that of Miami and Chicago, and nearly three times the $38,161 price tag in Los Angeles. LA, however, jailed nearly twice as many inmates as New York City that year, with 19,041 compared with 10,240 here.

City officials say their investments are bearing fruit, with a decrease in serious violence and increased seizures of contraband.

City Hall spokeswoman Natalie Grybauskas said, “Our investments in safety an skills development for staff and inmates cost money but are integral to improving conditions in our jails.”

But Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens), chair of the committee on fire and criminal justice, disputed the city’s claims, citing data showing the jail system actually became less safe in fiscal 2016.

“This significant increase in spending shows the administration has no effective plan in place to stem the violence,” she said.