A federal judge has ordered an outside official to take over control of much of New York City's jail system after local officials failed to stem high rates of violence and long-standing dysfunction.

A federal judge has appointed a remediation manager to run Rikers Island and report directly to her, taking control of the troubled complex away from the city.

Laura Taylor Swain, a federal judge, seized control of New York City’s lockups, which have been rife with violence and dysfunction.