Rikers Island news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com (2024)

Rikers is prepared for Donald Trump to be sent to jail

Rikers is prepared for Donald Trump to be sent to jail

New York Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump about jail time if he commits further gag order violations.

By Matthew Impelli On 5/7/24 at 3:27 PM EDT

Drug Confiscations in NYC Jails Doubled During Pandemic Visitor Ban

Drug Confiscations in NYC Jails Doubled During Pandemic Visitor Ban

Darren Mack, co-director of the jail-reform organization Freedom Agenda suggested the numbers show the drugs are allegedly being brought in by jail personnel.

By Jon Jackson On 2/10/22 at 5:28 PM EST

Rikers Island Ends Crisis-Ridden Year With Soaring COVID Positivity Rate

Rikers Island Ends Crisis-Ridden Year With Soaring COVID Positivity Rate

New York City's correction commissioner warned that the site "faces an equal or greater level of risk from COVID now as it did at the start of the pandemic."

By Alexandra Hutzler On 12/22/21 at 11:20 AM EST

NYC Mayor-Elect Eric Adams Names New Head of Jail System Where 16 Have Died

NYC Mayor-Elect Eric Adams Names New Head of Jail System Where 16 Have Died

"Our future criminal justice system must be transformed," Adams said when announcing Louis Molina as the new commissioner of the Department of Correction.

By Erin Brady On 12/16/21 at 5:05 PM EST

NYC Inmate's Death Ties 2016 Total of 15 as Jail System Faces Many Problems

NYC Inmate's Death Ties 2016 Total of 15 as Jail System Faces Many Problems

In a statement, Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said that Malcolm Boatwright's death "is a heartbreaking loss at the end of a very difficult year."

By Ayumi Davis On 12/10/21 at 10:13 PM EST

I Worked at Rikers Island. Mishandling the Vaccine Mandate Could Cost Lives

I Worked at Rikers Island. Mishandling the Vaccine Mandate Could Cost Lives

According to City Hall, the Department of Corrections has the lowest number of vaccinated staff. And it's going to cost lives.

By Ralph Ortiz On 12/5/21 at 12:52 PM EST

NYC Corrections Officers to Work 12-Hour Shifts Ahead of Vaccine Deadline

NYC Corrections Officers to Work 12-Hour Shifts Ahead of Vaccine Deadline

The vaccination rate for the department was 76 percent as of Monday, the last day before the deadline.

By Jon Jackson On 11/30/21 at 1:33 PM EST

Hochul, de Blasio to Move More Than 200 Prisoners out of Rikers Island

Hochul, de Blasio to Move More Than 200 Prisoners out of Rikers Island

The number covers "nearly all" of the women and trans prisoners who are currently incarcerated at Rikers, Hochul's office said.

By Meghan Roos On 10/13/21 at 3:43 PM EDT

Rikers Jail Population Has Decreased By 400 Since 'Horror Island' Tour

Rikers Jail Population Has Decreased By 400 Since 'Horror Island' Tour

"I know what a pressure cooker looks like, I've worked in a kitchen a few times, and I'm trying to make sure it doesn't blow up," Governor Kathy Hochul said.

By Alexandra Hutzler On 10/1/21 at 11:38 AM EDT

Judge Says Rikers in 'State of Danger' s Congress Pushes for Investigation

Judge Says Rikers in 'State of Danger' s Congress Pushes for Investigation

Court-appointed federal monitor Steve J. Martin blasted New York City officials for presenting "not one" concrete solution to ongoing security concerns.

By Rebecca Klapper On 9/24/21 at 5:26 PM EDT

New York AG Investigating Rikers Island After 11th Inmate Dies in Custody

New York AG Investigating Rikers Island After 11th Inmate Dies in Custody

On Friday, Letitia James directed the letter, launching the investigation, to Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York.

By Andre J. Ellington On 9/24/21 at 3:13 PM EDT

NYC Inmate Dies as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Other Dems Demand Rikers Close

NYC Inmate Dies as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Other Dems Demand Rikers Close

A letter from Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic House representatives called the jail's conditions "deplorable and nothing short of a humanitarian crisis."

By Zoe Strozewski On 9/22/21 at 5:50 PM EDT

Inmate in for Parole Violation Becomes 11th to Die at Rikers This Year

Inmate in for Parole Violation Becomes 11th to Die at Rikers This Year

"There is nothing natural about what is happening in our jail system right now," Department of Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said.

By Rebecca Klapper On 9/20/21 at 4:37 PM EDT

New York Gov. Hochul Orders Release of 191 Inmates Amid Horrors at Rikers

New York Gov. Hochul Orders Release of 191 Inmates Amid Horrors at Rikers

Under the new law, another 200 inmates at Rikers will be transported to other facilities to avoid overcrowding.

By Katherine Fung On 9/17/21 at 12:13 PM EDT

Leaders Call NYC Jail 'Horror Island' After Seeing Inmate Attempt Suicide

Leaders Call NYC Jail 'Horror Island' After Seeing Inmate Attempt Suicide

"What I saw yesterday was a state of emergency," said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams about Rikers Island.

By Alexandra Hutzler On 9/14/21 at 10:36 AM EDT

Man Awaiting Trial Found Dead in Cell, 3rd Death in NY Jail in Past Month

Man Awaiting Trial Found Dead in Cell, 3rd Death in NY Jail in Past Month

The troubles continue for the infamous jail complex on New York City's Rikers Island.

By Jon Jackson On 9/8/21 at 12:22 PM EDT

Covid Is Hitting Correctional Officers. Prisoners Are Paying the Price.

Covid Is Hitting Correctional Officers. Prisoners Are Paying the Price.

It's the inmates who pay the highest price for unsafe working conditions of correctional officers.

By Ralph Ortiz On 3/12/21 at 4:19 PM EST

Waters, Reid Compare Roger Stone's Clemency to Kalief Browder's Death

Waters, Reid Compare Roger Stone's Clemency to Kalief Browder's Death

California Congresswoman Maxine Waters said President Donald Trump's pardon of Roger Stone and his supporters' criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement showed there are truly two separate systems of justice in the United States.

By Benjamin Fearnow On 7/12/20 at 4:36 PM EDT

Correctional Facilities Report Steep Rise in Coronavirus Infection Rate

Correctional Facilities Report Steep Rise in Coronavirus Infection Rate

While states like New York may have hit their peak in the coronavirus pandemic, jails and prisons across the United States are still reporting high infection rates.

By Meghan Roos On 4/16/20 at 6:33 PM EDT

More Than 700 People Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus on Rikers Island

More Than 700 People Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus on Rikers Island

The city and state correctional programs have taken some proactive measures to reduce the risk of transmission, such as by limiting or suspending visitations.

By Asher Stockler On 4/8/20 at 12:22 PM EDT

NYC Jails' Chief Physician Warns Coronavirus Cases 'Growing Quickly'

NYC Jails' Chief Physician Warns Coronavirus Cases 'Growing Quickly'

"This is not a generational public health crisis, rather it is a crisis of a magnitude no generation living today has ever seen," Dr. Ross MacDonald wrote.

By Asher Stockler On 3/31/20 at 12:27 PM EDT

First Rikers Island Prisoner Confirmed With Coronavirus, 8 More Symptomatic

First Rikers Island Prisoner Confirmed With Coronavirus, 8 More Symptomatic

"Eight have been identified with symptoms and have been moved also to isolation within the communicable disease unit," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

By Jeffery Martin On 3/19/20 at 10:04 PM EDT

Mother of Trans Woman Who Died at Rikers Files Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

Mother of Trans Woman Who Died at Rikers Files Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

Layleen is believed to be the tenth black trans woman to die from instances of alleged violence or neglect in 2019 alone.

By Asher Stockler On 8/12/19 at 5:43 PM EDT

Rikers Island Corrections Officers Accused Of Sex Abuse

Rikers Island Corrections Officers Accused Of Sex Abuse

At least 50women have taken legal action against the Department of Corrections for the unlawful encounters.

By Lauren Gill On 1/11/18 at 8:00 AM EST

NYC Jail Inmate Claims False Imprisonment

NYC Jail Inmate Claims False Imprisonment

Glenn Kindler, 55, is suing the city and state for false imprisonment after he was kept in the jail for 252 days beyond when he was supposed to be freed.

By Lauren Gill On 12/26/17 at 10:34 AM EST

Correction Officers Union Hits Out at Kaepernick

Correction Officers Union Hits Out at Kaepernick

The Correction Officers' Benevolent Association was not happy Kaepernick wore socks with cops as pigs.

By Tufayel Ahmed On 12/13/17 at 4:41 AM EST

Rikers Island Guard Punches Inmate, Then Lies About It

Rikers Island Guard Punches Inmate, Then Lies About It

The guard punched the inmate three times in the face, landed three swift uppercuts, held him in a headlock and elbowed him five times before another guard arrived.

By Josh Saul On 8/17/17 at 6:22 PM EDT

What Happens Inside American Prisons

What Happens Inside American Prisons

Injustices takes place inside prisons in the name of safety and security—but free from public scrutiny. It's time to expose the extraordinary truth of what goes on.

By Heather Ann Thompson On 6/6/17 at 1:18 PM EDT

Mother's Day: Spare a Thought for Kids Behind Bars

Mother's Day: Spare a Thought for Kids Behind Bars

High days and holidays bring acute pain to mothers and children divided by incarceration.

By Karen Dolan On 5/14/17 at 5:50 AM EDT

Rikers Island Guard Guilty in Beating Death of Prisoner

Rikers Island Guard Guilty in Beating Death of Prisoner

The facility where Brian Coll kicked Ronald Spear to death is so violent it's currently under federal oversight.

By Josh Saul On 12/15/16 at 8:13 PM EST