The Department of Correction announced the death of a 43-year-old on Rikers Island custody Thursday.

It’s the first death of the new year and comes as the federal monitor continues to issue reports on the deteriorating situation at the jail complex.

Meanwhile, criminal justice advocates and lawmakers passed significant legislation this past year affecting those formerly and currently incarcerated.

This includes the ban on solitary confinement and the Clean Slate law that seals some criminal records after a certain amount of years.

One organization that’s keeping an eye on the city’s jails and the individuals in the system is the Fortune Society, which provides essential support to the formerly incarcerated.

The previous CEO, JoAnne Page, retired last year, and Stanley Richards became the new CEO on Jan. 1.

He joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” Thursday to talk more about the state of city’s jails and his new position.