Rikers island
and Mental Health
Data, Lived Experience, and Community-Based Alternatives
Social Links
As New York City works toward its mandate to close Rikers Island, addressing the mental health needs of people in the jail system remains a defining challenge—and a critical opportunity for reform.
On January 15, 2026, the Data Collaborative for Justice and the Katal Center for Equity, Health, & Justice hosted a public webinar featuring our recent report: Rikers Island and Mental Health: Pathways Toward Community-Based Diversion and Jail Population Reduction.
This one-hour session covered:
- Updated data on the nature & scale of mental health needs among people detained at Rikers
- A first-person account revealing the human impact of inadequate mental health care while detained
- Treatment Court Expansion Act information and how to get involved
- Key policy recommendations, including a 15-point plan to strengthen community treatment and reduce unnecessary detention.
Watch the Webinar
