Rikers Island
Nonprofits
Living a testament to humane, criminal justice reform efforts
An interview with Stanley Richards, a formerly incarcerated man of color now leading the Fortune Society.
Rikers Island
Advocates and local elected officials launch countdown to close Rikers
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration was called on to comply with a legal mandate of closing the troubled jail complex in 2027.
New York City
What would receivership look like for Rikers Island?
Here are the options a judge has for stripping New York City of its control of the dysfunctional jail complex.
New York City
After PR stunts, damning reports and a new lawsuit, judge sets stage for potential federal takeover of Rikers next year
Federal judge Laura Taylor Swain is losing patience with the city Department of Correction, which has now come under fire from the court-appointed federal monitor, Legal Aid Society, federal prosecutors, city comptroller and Board of Correction.
New York City
Opinion: Eric Adams has failed. It’s time for a federal receiver to take over at Rikers
Receivership is the only way to improve conditions and save lives at the troubled jail complex
New York City
More people have died in New York City jails than previously known
Since 2014, at least 120 people held in city jails have died while in custody or shortly after being released on medical grounds – but some of those deaths have gone unreported.
New York City
Here's how parents are really treated on Rikers
Unable to exercise their parental rights, incarcerated fathers and mothers can often feel isolated from their children.
Opinion
Opinion: Jails cannot fix our mental health care crisis
Here’s a list of proven solutions that offer more effective results through community-based resources
Opinion
Opinion: More people will die at Rikers if Hochul rolls back bail reform
We are family members of people who died at Rikers. If Rikers had killed white people, the governor would close it, not condemn more people there.
Rikers Island
Opinion: NYC’s nightmarish plan to prohibit physical mail in jails should be abandoned
A move to digitize this correspondence has proved in the past to dramatically undermine the expressive and privacy rights of both incarcerated and unincarcerated people.
Rikers Island
New York City electeds say conditions at Rikers are improving despite 12 deaths this year
Officials made yet another visit to the troubled jail complex this year amid threats of a federal takeover, noting it’s unlikely to close as planned by 2027.
Opinion
The removal of women and gender-expansive people from Rikers Island takes on a new urgency
After 11 deaths at the city jail, the population’s exit from the Rose M. Singer Center needs to be prioritized.
Juvenile justice
Is New York City ready to implement Raise the Age?
Unanswered questions seem to jeopardize New York City's ability to meet the Oct. 1 deadline for implementing Raise the Age legislation. The city must remove youthful offenders from Rikers Island and move juvenile offenders to age-appropriate juvenile delinquent facilities.
Rikers Island