Faced with surging violence at Rikers Island, Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the New York City jail complex on Thursday for the second time in three months to unveil a 14-point plan focused on curtailing inmate fights and stopping the smuggling of drugs and weapons.

Mr. de Blasio described the changes as a product of months of review and spoke in greater detail and fluency about the challenges at Rikers than he had at any time in his tenure. But the mayor, who was surrounded by senior uniformed correction officers during an hourlong news conference, made only passing reference to the brutality by guards that has been the focus of news media reports and a federal inquiry.

Joseph Ponte, who took over as correction commissioner last April, has said repeatedly that no change can come to Rikers without first bringing violence under control.

Mr. de Blasio said on Thursday that the new measures were part of a long-term solution that might not yield results immediately.