New York City Leaders Urge Incoming Adams Administration To Address Rikers Island COVID Surge
More than half of those incarcerated are unvaccinated, putting them at severe risk as the Omicron variant spreads.
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More than half of those incarcerated are unvaccinated, putting them at severe risk as the Omicron variant spreads.
The commissioner of the Department of Correction is sounding the alarm about a surge in COVID-19 cases on Rikers Island.
Adams and Molina made waves when asked about future plans for solitary confinement on Rikers Island.
There have been 16 deaths involving detainees this year. Fourteen of them were people in custody on Rikers Island.
He becomes the 15th detainee to die in custody during what's become the deadliest year since 2016, when thousands more inmates were housed at the jail complex.
The plaintiffs say they have suffered assaults and sexual abuse.
In recent months, state and local leaders have attempted to alleviate conditions at the city's jail complex.
The deteriorating conditions include increased inmate deaths, suicides and officers calling out sick en masse.
It was back to work on Rikers Island on Wednesday, but this time only for staff who have had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In anticipation of deepening staff concerns, Mayor Bill de Blasio issued an executive order moving correction officers to 12-hour shifts.
A delegation of lawmakers is raising more concerns about the crisis on Rikers Island, saying conditions are still inhumane.
FDNY responded to the scene at 8:15 p.m. Friday, getting the fire under control in about an hour.
Two former detainees allege people housed at Rikers Island are deprived of adequate water, food and medication.
The Department of Correction union says at least 24 employees have been victims of sexual assault by an inmate this year.
They say the decision to move the inmates to upstate correctional facilities puts their safety at risk.
The report outlined numerous changes by the Department of Correction. They include fixing hundreds of broken locks on cell doors and suspending more than 100 correction officers for not coming to work.
According to Attorney Pamela Roth, Stephan Khadu had no health issues when he entered the Department of Correction system.
Behind the walls on Rikers Island, the desperation has not let up, despite the city touting various plans for weeks to address deteriorating conditions.
Parole officers are at odds with inmate advocates over the law that immediately released more than 160 people on parole being held on non-violent technical violations.
Public defenders and inmate advocates gathered outside of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office on Wednesday, demanding an end to cash bail.
Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration outlined progress being made in front of the state Assembly's correction committee while calling on the courts to take up more cases.
Advocates say measures taken to address the problems are not going far enough.
The city has not allowed cameras outside of the main office on Rikers Island during this crisis until now.
The mayor remains steadfast in the face of ongoing criticism that his way is working.
With chaos brewing for months, reaching a violent and deadly crescendo, the mayor went to see the conditions on Rikers Island firsthand.
