Federal prosecutors announced they would file charges against the city of New York over the treatment of young inmates at Rikers Island. Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the southern district, said his office will join lawsuit already filed against the city despite Mayor Bill de Blasio's move to reform the city's correctional facilities.

On Wednesday Mayor de Blasio toured Rikers Island correctional facility, his first visit since taking office, according to The New York Times. During his visit, the mayor visited sections of the jail mentioned in the Department of Justice's report release in August. He also met with young inmates and announced the end of solitary confinement for young inmates 16 and 17 years of age. Mayor de Blasio and Department of Corrections Commissioner Joseph Ponte said they would continue reforming the city's correctional facilities.

Nonetheless, the federal will continue to pursue the case against the city. According to NY1, Bharara announced on Thursday his office would join a private class action lawsuit. City officials have argued that reform will take time, as violence and mistreatment is deeply embedded in the correctional facility's culture. Yet, the federal attorneys will move forward.

"We appreciate the mayor's visit to Rikers Island yesterday and the good steps that are taken so far. But in our view, much, much more needs to be done," Bharara said. "Given the long-standing sad state of affairs, we are understandably quite impatient, and we would like to get things done at a faster pace."

A statement released by the Department of Justice states the department will intervene in the case of Nunez vs. City of New York, "which alleges that the Department of Correction has engaged in a pattern and practice of using unnecessary and excessive force against inmates."

"Today we are taking legal action to ensure that critically important reforms are put in place to address the culture of violence and overuse of punitive segregation at Rikers Island that has violated the constitutional rights of New York City's youngest inmates," said Vanita Gupta, acting assistant attorney general. "We stand ready to work with the city to remedy these deeply disturbing conditions for the safety of confined youth, remedies that will ultimately also promote public safety and the safety of correctional officers."