DOC: Inmate dies on Rikers Island; sixth death in NYC jails so far this year
By News 12 Staff via News12 An inmate at Rikers Island died Sunday morning, marking the sixth death at a New York City jail since this year started. The Department of Corrections told News 12 that 44-year-old Curtis Davis was found unresponsive in his cell. It said he received immediate medical care but was pronounced dead […]
Calls for federal takeover of NYC’s Rikers Island continue, Mayor Adams opposes the move
By: Sonia Rincon via ABC7NY NEW YORK (WABC) — Is the federal takeover of New York City’s troubled Rikers Island jail imminent? Many signs are pointing to that conclusion, and it could come soon. Chants of “shut down Rikers” drowned out Mayor Eric Adams’ press conference on Thursday. “I like that. That chorus gives me energy,” […]
Video: ‘Shut Down Rikers’ Protesters Drown Out, Fluster Mayor
By: Matt Troutman via Patch NEW YORK CITY — Protesters drowned out and visibly flustered Mayor Eric Adams with chants of “shut down Rikers” during a news conference Thursday. One protester was reportedly arrested as he tried to break through a perimeter set up around Adams’ event in Brooklyn. The chaotic conference was streamed live online, giving […]
Advocates Call 3rd Rikers Island Death In July “Sickening”
By: Coral Murphy Marcos via Patch QUEENS — A 47-year-old man died at Rikers Island over the weekend after having spent nearly four months in the custody of city jails, according to a Department of Correction spokesperson. William Johnstone was found unresponsive in his cell in the George R. Vierno Center at about 1:50 p.m. […]
Dialed In: City Hall Set to Supply Free Phones to People Newly Released from Rikers
By; Reuven Blau via The City Rikers Island detainees fresh out of lockup — including some with serious mental illnesses — will soon receive free smartphones to better connect them with health care and other community services, THE CITY has learned. The plan to distribute phones comes after a 2003 court settlement in which a federal judge […]
Rally against Rikers Island comes after scathing report from Office of the Monitor
Emergency hearing held on future of Rikers Island after recent federal monitor reports
By: Natalie Duddridge via CBSNY NEW YORK — Demonstrators on Tuesday protested outside a federal court in Manhattan, where an emergency hearing was held to look into how Rikers Island is being operated. As CBS2 found out, a judge is inching closer to shifting control of the troubled jail. Protesters, including people formerly incarcerated at Rikers, say conditions […]
Fed monitor expected to rebuke CO commissioner for treatment of incarcerated people on Rikers Island
By: ABC7 News staff via ABC7NY RIKERS ISLAND (WABC) — The federal monitor for Rikers Island delivered a stinging rebuke of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina in court Tuesday over alleged violent and negligent treatment of incarcerated people by jail staff. Meanwhile, people directly impacted by Rikers gather at Foley Square ahead of the federal court conference […]
Rally against Rikers Island comes after scathing report from Office of the Monitor
By: News 12 Staff via News12 Brooklyn An emergency hearing was held in U.S. District Court following a report from the Office of the Monitor detailing the increasing issues taking place on Rikers Island. Dozens of activists rallied in Foley Square against the current conditions within the jail facility on Tuesday in response to […]
NYC DOC rolls back transparency as a third Rikers-related death in 2023 is reported
By; Tandy Lau Via Amsterdam News No news is bad news. The NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) recently stopped informing the public about custody deaths in the wake of the third known Rikers Island-related death this year. Last Tuesday, May 30, the New York Times reported the death of Joshua Valles, who was held at Rikers’ Anna […]
