A judge found New York City in contempt of an agreement meant to improve jail conditions, setting the stage for a receivership.

A judge ruled New York City is now in contempt over "grave" conditions at the Rikers Island prison complex, with a federal takeover of the system now seen increasingly as likely in a years-long legal battle.

A judge's scathing ruling Wednesday moves New York City's troubled Rikers Island jail complex a step closer to a federal takeover.

The judge said the city had placed incarcerated people in “unconstitutional danger” by failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders pertaining to security, staffing, supervision, use of force and the safety of young detainees.

The judge found that conditions have only continued to worsen at the jail complex, setting up a potential federal takeover.

A federal judge held New York City in contempt of court Wednesday for failing to improve conditions at Rikers and other jails — and her scathing ruling says she’s now “inclined” to place the entire correctional system under federal control.

A U.S. judge on Wednesday said she was leaning toward ordering a federal takeover of New York City's Rikers Island jail complex, after finding the city had failed to improve violent conditions that put inmates and staff at risk.

A federal judge on Wednesday found New York City in contempt for failing to reel in the violence and excessive force at its jails, a "scathing ruling" in the AP's view that could see Rikers Island taken over by the feds in short order.

A Manhattan federal judge in a long-running lawsuit against the city’s beleaguered Department of Correction ruled Wednesday that a third-party “receiver” be appointed to oversee use-of-force and safety issues in the city’s jails.