Stanley Richards named to lead Department of Corrections — NYC’s first ex-con commissioner

NY Post ^ | 01/31/2026 | Marie Pohl and Rich Calder

[DFG]

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is turning to an ex-con to run NYC’s embattled jail system.

The socialist pol announced five key appointments to his administration during a Bronx press conference Saturday, most notably Stanley Richards, who will become the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s Department of Correction as commissioner.

Richards, who reportedly served jail time in the late 1980s for robbery, previously worked as president of the nonprofit Fortune Society that provides housing and other services for ex-cons. He’s also the DOC’s former deputy commissioner of programs and operations.

Mamdani announced Richards’ appointment less than a week after a federal judge tapped Nicholas Deml, the ex-head honcho of Vermont’s prison system, as an “remediation manager” who’ll run Rikers Island’s scandal-scarred jail complex independent of City Hall.

Mamdani said Richards’ appointment to the $243,171-a-year post is “not merely symbolic” but what he believes is best for city correction officers and detainees.

“I will turn to Stanley as we work to build a city where justice is at the heart of our corrections system, where every Department of Correction employee and incarcerated New Yorker is safe, and where every New Yorker re-enters society seamlessly from corrections,” he said.

Richards, 64, said he thinks it’s time the city’s jail system “turn the page, and we start a new era.”

“Under Mayor Mamdani’s leadership, we will chart a path of hope, healing and transformation,” he boasted.

“His administration made clear that the future of Rikers is not endless confinement, scapegoating or demonizing”

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TOPICS: US: New York
KEYWORDS: damdidiot; excon; fortunesociety; mamdani; mandummy; nycjail; stanleyrichards; transformation; zoronthemoron

[TexasGator]

Wiki Fortune Society

“The study praised the work of the Fortune Society as being focused on its mission, but also noted that many of its clients later are arrested again.”

[SuperLuminal]

This will turn out wonderfully.../s

[PGR88]

Their statements are all nebulous, political slogans.

Lots of BS being spread around.

[V_TWIN]

They made their bed......let ‘em lay in it.

[V_TWIN]

“Bite the big apple, don’t mind the maggots”

_The Rolling Stones’

-

Those lyrics have never been more accurate.

[traderrob6]

In other words, it remains committed to the pursuit of it’s “mission” which has been proven to be ineffectual.

[V_TWIN]

In the meantime, Governor DeSantis and the state of Florida have mandated all driving tests are to be taken in English only and translators are strictly forbidden.

The contrast between ny and FL. could not be more stark.

[TexasGator]

“In other words, it remains committed to the pursuit of it’s “mission” which has been proven to be ineffectual.”

Are you referring to their stated mission or their real nission; to skim taxpayer monies?

[Robert DeLong]

Let's pray that he is like Michael Franzese, but I sincerely doubt that he is. Don;t know him you say. I didn;t either until a friend introduced him to me:

So, let me presnt Michael Franzese, I think you will like him:

Former Mobster Breaks Down Minnesota Somali Scam

The video is about 23 minutes and 30 seconds long, but it goes by quickly, or at least it did fo rme.

[butlerweave]

Mamdani goes out of his way to pick the worst possible ,LOL

[Cowgirl of Justice]

I saw people posting that Mamdani’s mother was in Epstein’s orbit around the time Mamdani was conceived and there are multiple pics of them together.

There is speculation that Epstein is his father. There is a resemblance.

https://x.com/usanewshq/status/2017867609874768234?s=20

[Leaning Right]

> Mayor Zohran Mamdani is turning to an ex-con to run NYC’s embattled jail system. <

I guess it could have been worse. Mamdani could have picked a current con.

But maybe he’s holding that surprise for later.

[Leaning Right]

> it remains committed to the pursuit of it’s “mission” which has been proven to be ineffectual <

I know a guy who runs an at-risk youth program. I’m sure many folks who do such work are honorable people. But this guy is a scoundrel.

He’s made little progress over the years. Sometimes I think he likes it this way. Because if he makes a lasting impact, he’s out of a job.

[fella]

Putting a Fox in the henhouse?

[traderrob6]

The former

[Steely Tom]

I predict that Zohran Mamdani press conferences will become much less frequent as his term in office proceeds.

[House Atreides]

Richards, 64, said he thinks it’s time the city’s jail system “turn the page, and we start a new era.”
****************************************

Yep…. Breakfast served in bed and weekend passes for all.

[tlozo]

“His administration made clear that the future of Rikers is not endless confinement, scapegoating or demonizing”

So the prison's purpose, will no longer be "confinement". Time for all corrections officers to retire.

[antidemoncrat]

Hey New Yorkers ... enjoying consequences of your last election?