The Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform was formed in New York City in March 2016 with two dozen experts, policymakers, and advocates from a broad variety of backgrounds, including those who have spent time behind bars. In April 2017 the Commission released its recommendations and called for closing Rikers and replacing it with smaller jails in the city’s five boroughs. Just prior to the report’s release, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, reversed his prior position that closing Rikers Island Jail was not feasible, and announced his support for closing Rikers, but he said it will take a decade.