Last week, the Manhattan U.S. attorney, Damian Williams, called for an outside authority to take control of the jails, saying that “after eight years of trying every tool in the tool kit we cannot wait any longer for substantial progress to materialize.” And the federal judge who appointed the monitor as part of a civil rights case against the jails, Laura Taylor Swain, has recently signaled a deep frustration with the city’s Correction Department. For his part, Mr. Molina and his staff members have touted progress, pointing to department statistics that show a decrease in deaths, as well as in slashings and stabbings. But the creation of the new, tight-lipped investigative group — known as the special investigations unit — and other moves emanating from the commissioner’s office have called into question whether such statements can be trusted, records and interviews show. While there is nothing inherently wrong with a commissioner changing the structure of the units within the department, former correction officials say, the new unit’s refusal to divulge details of one violent incident has hampered the work of the monitor and other watchdog groups. The unit that is now being criticized was created on the same day in April that the federal monitor, Steve J. Martin, filed a report with the court praising the department’s willingness to take steps toward reform.

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Persons: Damian Williams, Laura Taylor Swain, Molina, Steve J, Martin Organizations: Manhattan U.S, city’s, Department Locations: slashings