Another inmate died on Rikers Island, marking the fifth death of the year, as reported by the Department of Correction. Found visibly ill during a routine check, the inmate was pronounced dead shortly after staff initiated aid. The correctional facility is under scrutiny, having reported 38 deaths since January 2022. A 2019 law mandates the closure of Rikers by 2027, yet progress on community-based jails to replace it has faced opposition and remains incomplete. The situation underscores ongoing issues within the correctional system.
"The department is mourning the loss of someone in our care who passed away on the evening of March 31... We share our condolences with his loved ones and will investigate every aspect of this tragedy."
"The latest Rikers Island death followed four other in-custody deaths that the Correction Department reported since the start of the year... This marks the 38th of its kind since the start of the Adams administration in January 2022."
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