NEW YORK, NY (Fox News) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appoints ex-con Stanley Richards as the commissioner of the Department of Correction, marking the first time a former inmate will hold the position.

## Background
Richards, who served time for robbery in the 1980s, will lead the rehabilitation-focused overhaul of the city’s corrections system.

## Alignment
In his first remarks, Richards aligns himself with Mamdani’s vision, rejecting punishment-centered approaches to incarceration.

## Controversy
The appointment comes amid federal scrutiny of NYC’s jail system, with concerns raised by the correction officers’ union about prioritizing safety over political ideology.

Richards is set to assume his new role on Feb. 16, as the city awaits to see how his background in reform will impact the troubled correctional system.