This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
On December 4, 2019, a disturbing incident occurred at Rikers Island, highlighting the need for reform in the city's criminal justice system. A 17-year-old inmate, who had a history of mental health problems and past suicide attempts, waited six hours for medical attention before attempting to hang himself.
According to Councilman Rory Lancman, a Queens Democrat who supports changes to the criminal justice system, the incident is a stark reminder of the system's failures. 'A kid in jail with mental health issues not being appropriately treated — if that is not an argument for reforming our criminal justice system, especially related to Rikers Island, then I don’t know what is,' he said.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are conducting a preliminary review to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to open a criminal investigation into the incident. The union representing corrections officers, however, has denied any wrongdoing, with President Elias Husamudeen stating that the officers did not stand idly by while the inmate attempted to harm himself.
However, lawyers with the Legal Aid Society, which represents the inmate, have disputed this claim, stating that the city jail system has a poor track record of protecting people at risk of taking their own lives. 'This outcome underscores the New York City Department of Correction’s inability to safeguard the youngest people in its custody,' said Redmond Haskins, a spokesman for the Legal Aid Society.
