From Hunger Strikes to Court Battles: Rikers’ Road to Ruin

“Every locked door has a story—and at Rikers, too many are permanent cries for help.”

Rikers Island has long been a symbol of things gone wrong in NYC’s criminal justice system. Over the years, it’s become emblematic of overcrowding, violence, neglect, and promises made but rarely kept. And right now, coverage from NPR, Reuters, AP, and others shows that things are only getting more urgent. People aren’t just asking for reform—they’re saying the system is failing so badly that removal of local control is now being seriously considered.

What’s going on: Crisis in progress

Let’s start with what is known. A federal judge — Laura Taylor Swain — has taken the step of shifting significant power away from New York City officials over how Rikers is run. Why? Because the conditions inside are viewed as dangerously deficient. Things like rampant violence, inmate deaths, excessive use of force, and structural mismanagement. Reuters+2AP News+2

One statistic: in 2023 there were 6,784 incidents of use of force in Rikers, up from 4,652 in 2016. Reuters Since 2022, there have been at least 33 deaths in custody. Reuters Also, many incarcerated persons suffer from serious mental illness — about 20% of the jail population. Reuters

On top of violence, there are reports of medical neglect, extended lockdowns, unsanitary or dangerous housing, isolation without support, and cases of staff failing to respond adequately to medical emergencies. NPR+2WBUR+2

So it’s not just “bad behavior here and there.” NPR and others show systemic failings: staffing is inconsistent, oversight is weak, accountability is patchy, leadership changes frequently, policy promises aren’t always followed through. WBUR+2CBS News+2

Promises & Plans: What has been proposed

For years, New York City has set out plans to shut down Rikers by 2027, replacing it with smaller jails in each borough. The idea is that smaller, more local facilities will reduce transit times for court, allow more oversight, and make the facilities easier to manage. NPR Illinois+2NPR+2

But progress has been slow. Population reductions haven’t kept pace. As of mid‑2023, the daily population was still over 6,000 (above what is considered a safer, manageable level) and local jails to replace Rikers are not all built or up and running. Reuters+1

Meanwhile, the courts have grown impatient. Judge Swain’s 2025 ruling stakes out that despite years of court orders (since 2015 consent decree) and monitoring, NY’s Department of Correction has repeatedly failed to make enough substantive changes to prevent inhumane treatment. As a result, a “remediation manager” has been appointed — someone with authority to override some local management decisions, to hire/fire staff, to revise policies, enforce standards, etc. Reuters+1

Why things haven’t improved (and what that tells us)

This is where the story gets complicated—and heartbreaking. It’s not only that promises have been made; it's that infrastructure, culture, staffing, and oversight have entrenched the problems.

Culture & norms inside Rikers: Reports indicate that violence has become normalized, that staff sometimes don’t intervene—or intervene too late—and that internal discipline is lax. WBUR+1

Leadership instability: Because leadership shifts so much, policies don’t always get followed through. Some corrections officials cite budget constraints, legal restrictions, staffing shortages—but advocates say it’s more than resources; it’s a lack of real accountability. WBUR+1

Oversight mechanisms: The 2015 consent decree was supposed to hold the city accountable. A federal monitor was appointed. There have been progress reports. But it seems the pace and depth of change have been insufficient. The court found City Hall in contempt of many provisions (18 in one ruling) of the consent decree. Reuters

Mental health & medical care gaps: Many incarcerated people report untreated illness, delays in care, or being placed in dangerous conditions. NPR’s past reporting (e.g. stories from medical staff at Rikers) describes living conditions so degraded that people are around inmates who have fashioned weapons out of infrastructure. NPR

Public & political pressure vs inertia: There’s lots of public anger, protests, lawsuits. But bureaucratic inertia (red tape, budgeting, politics) slows things down. Plans to close Rikers by 2027 are still on the books—but implementation is falling behind. NPR Illinois+1

Why this matters to everyone—even if you don’t live in NYC

You might think: “This is a local issue.” But actually, what’s going on at Rikers highlights deeper failings in how society treats incarcerated people, how justice is administered, how resources are allocated to the most vulnerable. It raises questions about violence in jails, medical neglect, what justice looks like in practice, and whether policymaking with oversight can match the ideal of rights guaranteed under law.

Also, when oversight fails and conditions degrade, everyone is at risk: staff, inmates, communities. Public health issues; costs blow up; inequity gets exacerbated. And, moral risk: how can a society say it stands for justice or human rights when its own institutions allow systemic neglect and cruelty?

What to watch now

Some indicators worth following in the next couple of years:

Whether the remediation manager actually has the power to fix things, and whether those changes are visible (fewer deaths, fewer use‑of‑force incidents, better medical care).

How much of the plan to close Rikers by 2027 will translate into real, functioning new facilities in the boroughs.

Whether city budgets and staffing are aligned with the reform demands.

What courts require in terms of ongoing reporting, transparency, inspections.

How voices of those incarcerated, their families, and advocacy groups influence policy vs being sidelined.

Final thoughts

Rikers Island isn’t just another failing prison—it’s a warning sign. It’s a reminder that justice isn’t only about laws but systems, people, and accountability. For decades, actions have fallen short of words. The past few years show that the legal system is stepping in—not because it wants to, but because it seems the city can’t self‑repair fast enough.

For those watching, listening, praying for change, the hope is that this time oversight means more than promises—that 2027 won’t just be a date on paper, but a turning point. And that real humanity returns to what has become a place where too many lives have been ignored, even when the world is watching.

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📊 Recorded Deaths at Rikers

• Since 2022, at least 33 people have died in custody at Rikers (or just after release / in related medical circumstances), per a 2025 ruling by a federal judge. Reuters

• In 2025 so far, there have been 9 deaths reported in custody. New York Post+2New York Post+2

• Early in 2025, there were 5 inmate deaths over about six weeks, which already matched the total detainee deaths for all of 2024. CBS News+2Hoodline+2

• Since Mayor Eric Adams took office in January 2022, there have been at least 38 detainee deaths in DOC custody or related conditions. Prison Legal News+1

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⚠ Why the Numbers Don’t Always Match or Tell the Full Story

• Counting methods differ: Some deaths are listed as “in custody,” some are after release or while being transported, others in hospitals after transfer. Whether those are included depends on the source. Prison Legal News+1

• Under-reporting or missing data: One investigation (City & State) found there may have been far more than the official numbers — e.g. 120+ deaths between 2014‑2022 in Department of Correction facilities or shortly after release, while DOC reported fewer. City & State New York+1

• Time lag / investigations still underway: Some deaths are under medical examination or review, so figures can change. Also, some deaths may not yet be confirmed or publicly disclosed.

📊 Rikers Deaths: Trend Overview (2018‑2025)

YearOfficial NYC DOC Deaths in Custody / City Jail System*Independent / Investigative Counts & Notes2018‑2021Data sparse in this breakdown; between 2017‑2021, there were ~6 deaths/year on average from 2017‑2021 per some sources pre‑2022. Prison Legal News+2Corrections1+22022-19 deaths reported in Rikers custody. City & State New York+4City & State New York+4Prison Legal News+4Independent investigations count ~19 deaths; also City & State found at least 120 deaths in DOC facilities or just after release between 2014‑2022, but DOC had reported just 68 in that period. Prison Legal News+120239 deaths in custody. City & State New York+2Prison Legal News+2Matches independent/basic count (reporting shows ~9). Number of deaths still under scrutiny for full context. City & State New York+120245 deaths reported in custody. City & State New York+1Verified / reported by oversight & media. Possibly undercounts due to omissions or post‑release deaths. City & State New York2025 (so far)7 deaths in custody as of the NYC Comptroller dashboard; reports show 8 deaths in city jails by mid‑2025. Queens Daily Eagle+3NYC Comptroller Office+3New York Post+3Independent count by Katal Center / media confirms multiple of those; also note “12 people have died in NYC DOC custody this year” per Vera (some may be outside Rikers or shortly after release) NYC Comptroller Office+3Vera Institute of Justice+3Prison Legal News+3

“Official NYC DOC Deaths” refers to in‑custody deaths reported by the Department of Correction or oversight agencies for Rikers / New York City jails.

🔍 Key Observations & Discrepancies

Under‑reporting / Missing Cases

City & State’s investigation found that between 2014‑2022, there were at least 113‑120 deaths among people in or just after being in DOC facilities (including hospital/compassionate release), but fewer than that many were officially reported by DOC in some cases. City & State New York+1

Some deaths are excluded from “in‑custody” statistics if they occur just after medical transfer or compassionate release. That allows official counts to appear lower. City & State New York+1

Spike in 2022

2022 was significantly worse than previous years: 19 deaths reported is described as “the highest number of deaths since 2013.” City & State New York+2Prison Legal News+2

After that, 2023 and 2024 show lower numbers officially (9 & 5 deaths respectively), though many argue the improvements are minimal or superficial. City & State New York+2Queens Daily Eagle+2

2025 is trending worse

The number of deaths in custody in 2025 has already surpassed 2024’s total. New York Post+2NYC Comptroller Office+2

Some reports say 8 deaths; the comptroller’s dashboard shows 7 confirmed so far. NYC Comptroller Office+1

Lack of Transparency

Several oversight entities note large discrepancies between what DOC reports publicly vs what independent investigations uncover. City & State New York+1

For example, in the 2014‑2022 period, DOC reported 68 deaths, while City & State documented many more (~120). Prison Legal News+1

My Personal Take

Most people locked up at Rikers aren’t hardened criminals or lifetime offenders. Many are there because of poverty, racial bias, or just bad luck. Some can’t afford bail. Some are awaiting trial—not convicted. Some are mentally unwell, stuck in limbo with no treatment. Some are targeted by a system that treats them as suspects first, human beings second.

Think about that for a second: someone you care about—your child, sibling, partner—could find themselves caught up in this. A bad encounter with law enforcement, a traffic stop, failing to show due to no resources, or a mental health crisis. Suddenly they’re not just a person. They’re “inmate,” “accused,” trapped in a system that allows neglect, delay, brutality.

That’s not paranoia. That’s reality. Rikers isn’t just failing the convicted—it’s failing the innocent, the vulnerable, and anyone who doesn’t get the benefit of privilege. And while people debate closing it, many live with the fact that nothing much has actually improved. So before we say “that won’t be me,” ask this: if the system tilts one way, how sure are you it won’t tilt toward someone you love?