FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 3, 2025
Contact: Contact: Yonah Zeitz | 347-201-2768 | yonah@katalcenter.org
Follow on socials @KatalCenter | #ShutRikers | #CutShutInvestNY
Katal Center Responds to News of Horrific Assault of An Incarcerated Person at Sullivan Correctional Facility & Increasing Levels of Violence at Rikers Island
New York, NY: Today, the New York Times published a horrific story about Ernastiaze Moore, who was violently assaulted and sexually abused by correctional officers at Sullivan Correctional Facility in January 2023. This story follows the brutal killings of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi at Marcy and Mid-State prisons that occurred in the past and underscores the violence and abuse incarcerated people face in New York State’s prison system.
In NYC, the crisis at Rikers is also worsening. Gothamist published a piece today about the rising rates of violence at Rikers Islands. This year, at least 12 people have died in city jails and at least 45 people have died since Eric Adams became mayor in 2022.
On June 12, the New York Legislature passed an omnibus corrections oversight bill, S.8415 (Salazar)/A.8871 (Dilan), that includes overhauling the government watchdog—the State Commission of Correction—with authority over local jails and state prisons, including Sullivan Correction facility and Rikers Island. The bill is currently awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Statement from Kevin Valentine member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice: “To learn about the sexual abuse and excessive force that Mr. Moore suffered at the hands of correctional officers while detained at Sullivan Correctional facility in January of 2023 makes my stomach hurt. To think that at one point, I could have been detained at this exact facility. I was in Sullivan County serving time at Woodbourne. It just sends shivers down my spine to even think about what could have happened to me. I feel for all of the individuals who have suffered terrible violence in state prisons. We cannot forget that these are not isolated cases. This is happening daily, but once again, they are not being recorded for the whole world to see. What Mr. Moore endured should not happen again. The brutal murder of Robert Brooks, and Messiah Nantwi should never happen again.
Governor Hochul has a moral responsibility to ensure that incarcerated people are not being beaten to death. People’s lives are in danger, and Governor Hochul has been sitting idly by since June of this year, when the legislature passed the Omnibus Correction Oversight Bill S.8415 (Salazar)/A.8871 (Dilan). This omnibus bill consists of ten prison oversight and accountability bills. Section H of the omnibus bill includes legislation to overhaul the State Commission of Correction to ensure it meets its mandate of maintaining jails and prisons across the state in ‘safe, stable, and humane conditions.’ Governor Hochul must urgently sign this bill into law!”
Background: #ShutRikers is a campaign of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. Katal and our allies are working to cut the correctional populations and the budgets used for caging people; shut down Rikers Island; and invest in real public safety: housing, health care, education, and jobs.
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