Hell Island: What Happens at Rikers Island Prison and Why Suicides Are Common

More than a dozen local lawmakers embarked on a private tour of Rikers Island on the morning of September 13. ABC7NY... After the trip, they used the words "torturous", "inhuman" and "horrific" to describe the conditions of detention in one of America's most famous prisons.

“It's a nightmare, a nightmare there,” said State Senator Jabari Brisport.

One MP said the kennels were treated better than the 6000 inmates on Rikers Island.

“What we saw today was terrifying,” said Assembly member Zohran Mamdani.

According to them, some inmates had no access to food, bathrooms, medicine and lawyers for more than a week.

Prisoners are given only 75 ml of water per day

“The toilets are overflowing and the contents are spilling onto the floor,” said Alice Fonteir, executive director of the city's bar. - They were packed, 25 people in a cell, no masks. Appearances in court were missed. "

According to State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, prisoners are given only 75 ml of water a day.

“There should be control in the prison, but there is none. There is no security. People were kept in showers, not cells, because many cells were unrepaired, ”she added.

At some point, she began to fear for her safety. At first, the inmates approached her with requests to improve the conditions of detention. Then everything turned into a general cry and they surrounded her.

Lawmakers and officials have called on prosecutors not to send new prisoners to jail.

The prisoner wanted to hang himself in the eyes of politicians

Assemblyman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (Democratic Party, Queens) also visited Rikers Island on Monday morning. While she was inside a punitive detention center in a crowded correctional center, a man attempted to hang himself in front of her and State Senator Jessica Ramos.

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“I just witnessed a suicide attempt,” said Gonzalez-Rojas. "Nobody deserves it."

“The man called me over and pointed to the man who jumped on the bars and tried to hang himself with a sheet ... I called the guard. I think [the inmate] is fine, ”she added.

The prisoner's identity and the severity of the hanging injuries were not immediately known. The Department of Corrections did not comment on the incident or provide further details. At the same time, a source in the prison told reporters that "suicide attempts are common."

Hunger, torture, violence

Ramos said "we must be kidding ourselves" if the public expects prisoners to endure such conditions on Rikers Island and then "reintegrate into society in a productive way."

“Hunger, torture, violence, lack of physical or mental health treatment are not a recipe for rehabilitation or security. This is a recipe for violence and continued violence on our streets, ”Ramos said.

Officers work more than 25 hours per shift

Benny Boschio Jr., President of the Corrections Charitable Association, interrupted the press conference. He demanded more officers, not fewer prisoners.

"Let's release all the criminals and let the crime create complete chaos in New York," Boshio resented, responding to calls from lawmakers to release some of Rikers' prisoners.

"Eleven shootings a day, babies being shot in Times Square, and they want to free more prisoners?" He continued.

Boshio said the prison's staffing crisis allows inmates to be unattended for hours. This creates a dangerous situation for the officers. After all, there are often fewer of them, and they have little support.

As a result, some correctional officers work 25 consecutive hours.

Politicians are fighting to free prisoners from "inhuman," "dangerous and illegal conditions" on Rikers Island.

Most of the politicians who visited the prison complex called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to take action. He promised to hire more officers to guard the prison and eventually close the penitentiary.