In just the first three months of 2024, five individuals have died at Rikers Island, matching last year’s total. The recent death of 27-year-old Dashawn Jenkins, found unresponsive by staff, underscores the crisis at the facility, which houses a large number of inmates with mental health issues. Advocates are calling for the closure of Rikers and the appointment of an external authority to oversee city jails, citing the alarming rate of deaths. Since 2022, at least 38 deaths have occurred within the facility or shortly after release, pointing to a deepening crisis.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis unfolding at Rikers Island, which houses more people with mental illness than any psychiatric hospital in the entire city.
This is horrific news, yet it's not surprising, given the worsening crisis and soaring death toll this month at Rikers.
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