For more than two hours, Department of Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte sat in front of skeptical council members answering questions about the troubled jail for adolescents on Rikers Island. Ever since a Department of Justice investigation revealed systemic violence and a lack of accountability for guards accused of abusing 16- and 17-year-old inmates, Ponte has been under pressure to reform a system plagued by dysfunction. 

Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito questioned the Commissioner's decision to promote two correction officers to high-ranking positions even though they had overlooked hundreds of violent incidents involving adolescents.

"I don't know if that sends a really positive, affirming message to us that serious changes will continue if we have people abdicating their responsibilities," she said.

Ponte defended the men and said they were competent and had decades of experience. One of them, William Clemons, is now Chief of Department, the highest ranking position a uniformed officer can hold. He was expected to be at the hearing but was on vacation instead. Elizabeth Crowley, chair of the criminal justice committee, questioned why he was allowed to go away. "It is what is," Ponte responded. 

The Commissioner said his agency had replaced 80 to 90 percent of the wardens on Rikers Island and progress was being made toward holding staff accountable. In addition, he said the Department of Correction was in the process of re-writing its use-of-force policy. Councilman Daniel Dromm pressed him on the use-of-force, particularly so-called head-shots, when guards use their fists or batons to strike adolescents on the head. 

"What would be an acceptable reason for use of that type of force?" Dromm asked. Ponte said he wasn't sure if there was ever an acceptable reason, except maybe in extreme circumstances when a guard was trying to defend himself. 

To gain better control at the adolescent jail, Ponte said he had increased the number of staff on duty so that now there was one guard for every 15 inmates. The ratio had been double that. 

More changes are expected. The Department of Correction is currently negotiating a settlement with the Department of Justice that will likely take months to complete.