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 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.

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.

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.

While plans are on track to close Rikers Island by 2027, a federal judge ordered the city to submit proposals for structural reform to remedy its noncompliance with orders to stop civil rights abuses at the notorious jail.