A woman died in custody at Rikers Island on March 20, becoming the fourth inmate to die in the facility within a month. Found unresponsive during breakfast service, she could not be revived despite emergency medical efforts. The Department of Correction (DOC) confirmed the incident and expressed condolences, with an investigation promised. This tragic event follows multiple deaths, including that of a 20-year-old inmate last week, prompting calls for accountability regarding the safety conditions at Rikers, labeled by activists as a 'death camp' under current leadership.
According to DOC officials, the inmate was found dead inside the jail's West Facility shortly before 5:30 a.m. on March 20. A correction officer was starting to give breakfast to the woman, but after not receiving a response from her, DOC immediately notified the on-duty nurse.
Care for those in our facilities is a pillar of our mission and a loss of life weighs heavily on every member of service, DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said. The department grieves this loss and shares our condolences with her loved ones.
This death will be investigated thoroughly. The incident comes after the death last week of 20-year-old Ariel Quidone, who was found unresponsive in his Riker's Island cell.
Rikers Island is a death camp, and filling it up can only result in more death, Freedom Agenda co-director Darren Mack said.
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