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 seized control of New York City’s troubled jail system Tuesday — ordering that an outside official be brought in to clean up Rikers Island and other lockups. The 77-page order by Manhattan federal Judge Laura Swain effectively appoints a federal receiver — a move long desired by advocates — to correct dangerous conditions in Rikers that city and Department of Correction officials have tried and failed to do under a

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