New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that he will move forward on plans to replace the Rikers Island jail complex with smaller, borough-based jail facilities.

The mayor and the New York City Council reached an agreement to develop a single public review process for four proposed jail sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, which will provide space for a total 5,000 people. 

Under the current proposal, existing New York Department of Corrections facilities in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn will be repurposed—through renovations and expansions—and an entirely new facility will be constructed in the Bronx.

Moving forward with a clear plan for new, borough-based jails is a significant step towards closing Rikers Island and committing to further dropping the number of New Yorkers who are in jail.