After serving as first deputy commissioner with New York Metropolis Division of Correction (NYCDOC) since January 2021, Antiguan-born Lynelle Maginley-Liddie has created historical past by being elevated to commissioner and turning into the second Black girl to imagine that position in NYCDOC’s 128-year historical past.
“Lynelle Maginley-Liddie has spent the higher a part of a decade on the Division of Correction, and I assured that she is the fitting individual to steer the division going ahead,” stated New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams in making the announcement at a press convention final Friday.
“Lynelle has performed a big position within the progress we now have made over the past 23 months at DOC, supporting this administration’s efforts to reverse a long time of mismanagement and neglect on Rikers Island, and he or she is ready to take the reins of this division at such a pivotal second,” he added. “Public security and justice are the stipulations to prosperity, and underneath the management of Commissioner Maginley-Liddie, our administration will proceed to make sure dignity, security, and take care of the hard-working employees in our correction services and all detainees in our care.
“She is a gradual hand, who will proceed the great work of now-Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Security Louis Molina,” Adams continued. “I thank Lou for every little thing he did on the Division of Correction and stay up for working with him on this new position.”
New York Metropolis Company Counsel, Barbadian-born Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, described Maginley-Liddie as “a devoted public servant who’s dedicated to constructing upon the work the administration has executed to effectuate the modifications wanted at Rikers.”
She stated Maginley-Liddie is “acquainted with each side of DOC’s operations and fantastically certified to assist the town guarantee compliance with the consent decree.
“The Regulation Division appears ahead to working with Commissioner Maginley-Liddie in her new position,” Hinds-Radix added.
Maginley-Liddie thanked Adams for appointing her commissioner, stating that she was honored “to steer and serve this division and the folks of this nice metropolis.”
“As commissioner, I’ll work tirelessly to assist our employees and create secure and humane situations for these entrusted in our care,” she stated. “I additional pledge to comply with and set requirements for correctional greatest practices; the folks working and dwelling in our jails deserve nothing much less.”
Throughout Girls’s Historical past Month celebrations in March, Maginley-Liddie, who lives in New York Metropolis, informed Caribbean Life that the Division of Correction is “an company that has a wealthy historical past of selling ladies, significantly ladies of coloration, to management positions.”
“Forty-three % of girls on this company are correction officers, and 57 % of management positions are stuffed by ladies,” she stated. “As a lady of coloration, I acknowledge the importance of this role-not just for me however extra vital for the employees who work at this company. My illustration covers a broad spectrum throughout our workforce.
“My hope is that, when others see me in my position, they be taught from my journey to get right here,” Maginley-Liddie added. “I need them to examine themselves in management roles and know that they will attain any place of energy inside the company to impact actual change.
“I’m honored to have this duty bestowed upon me, and I take it very critically,” she continued. “Daily, I worth that I’ve the chance to influence the lives of those that work on the division, in addition to the people in custody who we serve.”
Maginley-Liddie has served the Metropolis of New York since 2015, when she first joined the division, first, as an company lawyer within the Authorized Division, and, subsequently as deputy basic counsel in 2018, the place she led the division’s Normal Litigation Unit. There, she offered strategic steerage on complicated authorized issues, specializing in the influence on the division and its members.
In August 2020, she was promoted to performing senior deputy commissioner and chief variety officer — a task the place she was capable of have an excellent larger influence on the division’s path to reform – turning into solely the third girl to imagine the position of first deputy commissioner within the division’s 128th yr historical past.
Previous to becoming a member of NYCDOC, Maginley-Liddie was an affiliate on the legislation agency of Chief Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP. She acquired her juris physician from Fordham College College of Regulation, whereas elevating a younger household. She started legislation faculty whereas her daughter was solely 4 months previous.
She is licensed to apply in New York and New Jersey, and is admitted to the Jap and Southern District Courts of New York, in addition to the US District Court docket of New Jersey.
Maginley-Liddie graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s diploma in authorities from John Jay Faculty of Legal Justice.
Born on the 108-square-mile island of Antigua and a toddler of a pastor, Maginley-Liddie attributed her accomplishments and famous profession to her religion in God and the assist of her household.
However she credited her professionalism to “the ethos” of her life: That’s, to “all the time be cognizant of the significance of being neutral, truthful, empathetic and humble.”
In view of her numerous background – Caribbean upbringing in a Christian family, sturdy household ties and the experiences of dwelling in “the melting pot that’s the beautiful mosaic of New York Metropolis” – Maginley-Liddie stated she “all the time goals to abide by a wholesome ethical compass.”
She stated she appreciated the teachings her dad and mom taught her: “To be neutral, be simply, and method life (and work) with a way of compassion.”
On this regard, Maginley-Liddie stated she strives to be “open-minded and affordable inside the limits and spirit of the legislation” when contemplating the influence of her selections for NYCDOH.
She stated she has supported the division’s mission of “sustaining a safer and extra humane surroundings for all employees and other people in custody.”
Maginley-Liddie stated she “helps and helps lead this division with a main give attention to investing in employees skilled development and well-being, and understanding the company’s success can be guided by our numerous and devoted workforce.”
On the peak of the pandemic, she stated she “shortly stood up and led the company’s essential COVID-19 testing and vaccination operation for workers.”
As well as, Maginley-Liddie stated she has organized for well being and wellness vans to be stationed on Rikers Island, “so employees can entry preventative well being screenings, as they carry out one of the difficult but rewarding jobs in legislation enforcement.”
She stated she is “deeply dedicated to public service and supporting the division, because it continues to endure historic modifications.”
Maginley-Liddie stated her dedication to public service motivates her to “work tirelessly to assist employees and people entrusted within the division’s care — all whereas preventing to push ahead the mission of felony justice reform.”
She is fortunately married to her husband for nearly 18 years and has two children.
Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin, chief advisor to Mayor Adams, who traces her roots to Barbados, thanked Louis Molina for “the nice work that he has executed as our Correction commissioner.
“Beneath his tenure, our administration and the Division of Correction have made unimaginable progress reversing harmful traits and placing our jail system on the fitting path,” she stated. “I’m assured that Commissioner Maginley-Liddie will bolster that progress — driving violence additional down and guaranteeing security for everybody dwelling and dealing in our system.”
