NEW YORK (AP) — Inmate advocates and others plan to voice their opposition to a proposed 250-bed restrictive housing unit on Rikers Island for violent inmates. The jail oversight board is sponsoring a public hearing on the $14.8 million proposed plan Friday. Jails Commissioner Joseph Ponte (PAHNT) says "enhanced supervision housing" is necessary to contain the small number of inmates responsible for a disproportionate amount of jail violence. But he's also said planned solitary confinement reforms won't take place until the unit's created. The plan would allow jailers to lock inmates in their cells for up to 17 hours daily, instead of eight and restrict their access to the law library, among other changes. Advocates say the plan is overly broad, punitive and can violate inmate rights.Read more on NewsOK.com