Federal judge appoints former CIA officer to oversee Rikers Island
New Leadership at Rikers Island A federal judge has appointed a former CIA officer to oversee operations at Rikers Island, shifting control away from city officials. Nicholas Demle, who previously directed the Vermont Department of Corrections, will step in as the facility’s new leader, addressing the ongoing challenges it faces. This decision came through an […]
How Mamdani can avoid the difficult period that Rikers Island now holds for him
Challenges Await Mayor Zoran Mamdani at Rikers Island Mayor Zoran Mamdani is stepping into a tough situation at Rikers Island, unlike his predecessors who may have hoped for a smoother path. He’s contending with the failed replacement plan initiated under de Blasio and is facing federal oversight on the horizon. According to city law, the […]
Zohran Mamdani’s directive to limit solitary confinement at Rikers Island in New York City
New York City Mayor Takes Charge of Prison Reform Mayor Zoran Mamdani has taken significant steps to address issues within New York City’s prison system, particularly following his predecessor’s actions regarding solitary confinement. His latest executive order directs prison officials to implement a 2024 city law designed to ban certain controversial practices. This law faced […]
14th inmate passes away at Rikers: ‘Completely failing’
In-Custody Death at Rikers Island In a troubling incident, a 32-year-old inmate at Rikers Island passed away early Sunday morning, marking the 14th death at the facility this year, according to officials from the Department of Corrections. Aramis Firth was found in poor condition at the Otis Bantam Correctional Center around 2 a.m. He was […]
Two NYC correction officers assaulted in four hours at the same Rikers jail – one by a suspect charged with a violent subway attack, according to the union
Brutal Attacks on Correctional Officers at Rikers Island On Wednesday, two correctional officers were violently attacked over a period of four hours at Rikers Island, with one officer being slashed by a weapon known as the Subway knife, according to union representatives. The officer, who has been on the job for 11 years, was attacked […]
Mother in New York City who claimed her missing autistic son was a fabrication is now in custody at Rikers.
A mother from Brooklyn has been taken into custody at Rikers Island. She made a startling claim to police that her 11-year-old son, Jacob Pritchett, who is nonverbal and autistic, never existed. Authorities shared this information on Monday. When child welfare officials and police searched her home on Howard Street in late September and early […]
Young attacker of Tessa Majors sentenced to Rikers for assault
Violent Path of Teen Involved in Tessa Majors’ Murder A 13-year-old boy, previously linked to the murder of Barnard College student Tessa Majors, has continued his pattern of violence even after being released from juvenile detention. Since his release, Zaire Davis has faced new charges, including attempted murder and an assault on a prison guard, […]
Mamdani Backs the Plan to Close Rikers Island
New York Mayoral Candidate Stands Out on Rikers Island Closure During the final mayoral debate on Wednesday, candidate Zoran Mamdani voiced his support for shutting down Rikers Island, a stance that sets him apart from his fellow candidates, Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo, who are against the 2027 closure deadline. Mamdani described Rikers and similar […]
Andrew Cuomo would abandon the plan to shut down Rikers Island if he becomes mayor of New York City.
Cuomo Reverses Stance on Rikers Island Closure Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate for mayor, announced on Wednesday that if he wins in November, he plans to reverse his earlier decision to close Rikers Island prison, which has sparked controversy over the years. Having previously advocated for its closure when he was governor, Cuomo shared his […]
NYC judge rules Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to reopen ICE office on Rikers Island as invalid
Judge Rules Against Adams’ Executive Order on Rikers A Manhattan judge recently deemed Mayor Eric Adams’ controversial executive order unfit and effectively nullified it, reopening discussions around the Rikers Island ice chamber. State Supreme Court Judge Mary V. Rosado’s decisive ruling is part of an ongoing legal battle between the City Council and Adams regarding […]