NYC Mayor Mamdani Announces New Commissioners

Appointments include first formerly incarcerated DOC commissioner

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a slate of new commissioners to lead some of the city's most vital departments, including Stanley Richards, who will become the first formerly incarcerated individual to serve as commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.

Why it matters

The new appointments, including Richards' historic role, represent Mayor Mamdani's efforts to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to city leadership, particularly in the area of criminal justice reform.

The details

Richards previously served as first deputy commissioner of the DOC and executive vice president of The Fortune Society, a nonprofit that provides assistance to formerly incarcerated individuals. The mayor's office said Richards' main focuses will be improving safety, closing Rikers Island and ensuring the DOC provides proper care to those in custody and support to its staff. The other appointments announced include the city's first Latina to lead the Department of Veterans' Services and a Harvard-affiliated emergency room physician to lead the Department of Health.

  • Mayor Mamdani announced the new commissioners on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
  • Richards was previously incarcerated in the 1980s.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the new commissioner appointments.

Stanley Richards

The first formerly incarcerated individual to be appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.

The Fortune Society

A nonprofit organization that provides assistance to formerly incarcerated individuals, where Richards previously served as executive vice president.

Martin

An emergency room physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, who was appointed to lead the Department of Health.

Mata

The first Latina to be appointed to lead the Department of Veterans' Services.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This role represents the culmination of my lifelong commitment to criminal justice reform, drawing directly from my own experience of incarceration on Rikers, which fueled my decades of work at The Fortune Society and with the Department of Correction, helping thousands rebuild their lives through reentry programs, leadership roles, and advocacy.”

— Stanley Richards, Newly appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction

“The future of Rikers is not endless confinement, scapegoating or demonizing. It is safety, transformation and rehabilitation.”

— Stanley Richards, Newly appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction

“New York City is built on the often unseen work of public servants who show up every day to care for our neighbors, support our young people, and make government work for the people who rely on it most. Today, we are entrusting five dedicated leaders with the responsibility to carry that work forward.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

What’s next

The new commissioners, including Stanley Richards as the first formerly incarcerated DOC commissioner, will begin their roles immediately and work to implement Mayor Mamdani's vision for criminal justice reform and improved services for New Yorkers.

The takeaway

The historic appointment of Stanley Richards, a formerly incarcerated individual, to lead the New York City Department of Correction signals Mayor Mamdani's commitment to bringing diverse perspectives and lived experiences to city leadership, particularly in the area of criminal justice reform.