Logan Reid
Rikers Island is a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, that contains New York City's largest jail and has been described as New York's best-known jail. The island is the site of one of the world's largest correctional institutions and mental institutions. The complex has had a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. In 2024, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled initiatives to provide greater care and enhanced programming for inmates, including building a special care center at area hospitals. Inmates with acute medical conditions and disabilities requiring housing that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act are housed in the North Infirmary Command, which includes the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. In addition, the city has provided smartphones to over 1,000 medically vulnerable individuals leaving Rikers Island to increase access to healthcare and mental health treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | East River in the Bronx, New York, United States |
| Size | 413 acres |
| Population | Dropped by more than 50% since 1991, when the average daily population was 21,688 |
| Reputation | Violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of inmates |
| Detainee Profile | 85% pretrial defendants, 50% diagnosed with a mental illness |
| Healthcare Initiatives | Inmate care center at Bellevue Hospital, smartphone access program for vulnerable patients |
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What You'll Learn
- The North Infirmary Command (NIC) houses Rikers inmates with acute medical conditions
- Inmates with mental health issues are transferred between Rikers and state hospitals
- Inmates at Rikers have access to medical clinics, but they are overcrowded
- Mayor Adams has proposed building a special care centre at area hospitals for Rikers inmates
- CHS provides smartphones to vulnerable people leaving Rikers to access health services
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) houses Rikers inmates with acute medical conditions
Rikers Island is a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, that contains New York City's largest jail. The island is the site of one of the world's largest correctional institutions and mental institutions and has been described as New York's best-known jail.
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) is one of the active facilities on Rikers Island. It consists of two separate buildings, one of which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. The North Infirmary Command houses inmates with acute medical conditions who require infirmary care or have a disability that requires housing compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility also houses some general population detainees.
The conditions at Rikers Island have been the subject of much scrutiny, with the facility gaining a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. In May 2013, it was ranked as one of the ten worst correctional facilities in the United States. The island has become known as a warehouse for people with serious mental illnesses, with records showing that more than half of the people in city custody have been diagnosed with a mental illness. The Correctional Health Services, the agency responsible for providing medical care in the jails, has struggled to meet the demand, resulting in overburdened staff and inadequate care.
To address these issues, Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled initiatives to provide greater care and enhanced programming for inmates. This includes the construction of special care centers at area hospitals, where inmates can receive treatment and stay until they recover. One such center is being built at Bellevue Hospital, with two more planned at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx. In addition, the administration has launched a smartphone access program through NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) to provide free smartphones and wireless plans to vulnerable individuals upon their release from Rikers Island, helping them stay connected to healthcare providers and social support services.
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Inmates with mental health issues are transferred between Rikers and state hospitals
Rikers Island, a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, has been described as New York's best-known jail. It is the site of one of the world's largest correctional institutions and mental institutions.
Rikers Island has a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. In 2013, it was ranked as one of the ten worst correctional facilities in the United States. The prison has been scrutinized for its handling of inmates with mental health issues, with reports of inmates not receiving proper treatment or medication.
Inmates with mental health issues have been transferred back and forth between Rikers Island and state hospitals. In one case, Bradley Ballard, who suffered from schizophrenia, was sent to Rikers and then to the psychiatric prison ward at Bellevue Hospital Center for 38 days before being sent back to Rikers. Unfortunately, Ballard died at the age of 39 after being confined to his cell for seven days without access to medication or medical treatment.
Another case involves Mr. Dolo, who spent nearly two years in a state forensic psychiatric hospital before being transferred to a public hospital, then to Rikers Island, and back to the forensic hospital. This illustrates the issue of detainees with severe mental illness being moved repeatedly between jails and state psychiatric facilities before standing trial.
To address the issue of inmate mental health, Mayor Eric Adams has proposed initiatives to provide greater care and programming for inmates, including building special care centers at area hospitals. Additionally, the Correctional Health Services has implemented a smartphone access program to help former inmates with mental health issues stay connected with healthcare providers and access resources upon their release from Rikers Island.
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Inmates at Rikers have access to medical clinics, but they are overcrowded
Rikers Island, a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, has long been criticised for its reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of inmates. The prison has been described as a “warehouse for people with serious mental illnesses”, with hundreds awaiting evaluations or in line for beds at state forensic psychiatric hospitals.
Inmates at Rikers Island do have access to medical clinics, but these are overcrowded and understaffed. The Correctional Health Services, the agency that provides medical care in the jails, has struggled to keep up with the soaring demand, leaving nurses in some psychiatric units responsible for dozens of patients at a time. The situation is so dire that some inmates have declined life-saving services because they felt too weak to make the trip from Rikers to the hospital.
To address this issue, Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled initiatives to provide greater care and enhanced programming for inmates, including building a special care centre at area hospitals where inmates can stay until they are well. One such centre is being built at Bellevue Hospital, with two more planned at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx. These centres will have dormitory-style treatment facilities, private rooms, and outdoor recreation areas.
In addition, the city has launched a smartphone access program through NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) to provide free smartphones and wireless plans to vulnerable individuals upon their release from Rikers Island. This program helps individuals connect with healthcare providers, pick up prescriptions, and access other essential resources.
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Mayor Adams has proposed building a special care centre at area hospitals for Rikers inmates
Mayor Eric Adams has announced plans to improve care and services for inmates at Rikers Island, including the construction of outposted therapeutic housing units at NYC Health + Hospitals. This initiative aims to increase access to specialty care services for those in custody, while also relocating the most clinically vulnerable individuals off of Rikers Island. The move is part of the administration's commitment to enhancing programming and providing greater care for people in custody.
Rikers Island, a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, has long been criticised for its reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of inmates. The prison has been described as New York's best-known jail and is the city's largest. It has also been labelled as one of the worst correctional facilities in the United States.
The proposed therapeutic housing units will be constructed at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, with an anticipated completion date of spring 2025. Additional units will be built at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and North Central Bronx, with a projected finish date of summer 2027. These units will provide care for patients with serious medical, mental health, and substance-use needs, offering a more structured, clinical environment.
The Adams administration has also taken steps to address the mental health needs of those leaving Rikers Island. Through the smartphone access program, more than 1,000 medically vulnerable individuals have been provided with smartphones to improve access to health care and mental health treatment. This initiative is part of the city's multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers with mental health issues and connect them to necessary resources.
Mayor Adams has demonstrated a commitment to improving the conditions and care for inmates at Rikers Island. By proposing the construction of special care centres at area hospitals, he aims to provide better access to specialty health services and address the needs of the clinically vulnerable. These initiatives are part of the administration's broader goal of creating a safe and fair criminal justice system.
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CHS provides smartphones to vulnerable people leaving Rikers to access health services
Rikers Island is a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York, that contains New York City's largest jail. The island is the site of one of the world's largest correctional institutions and mental institutions, and has been described as New York's best-known jail. The complex, operated by the New York City Department of Correction, has a budget of $860 million a year, a staff of 9,000 civilian officers, and 1,500 other civilians managing 10,000 inmates.
Rikers Island has had a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates, with numerous assaults by inmates on uniformed officers and other civilian staff. The prison has also been scrutinized for its handling of mentally ill detainees, with one in four detainees never taken to discharge planning appointments before release, according to a report.
In recognition of these issues, NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) has launched a smartphone access program to provide free smartphones and wireless plans to clinically vulnerable New Yorkers immediately upon their release from Rikers Island. The program, in partnership with Premier Wireless Business Technology Solutions, aims to help CHS's former patients with significant medical and mental health needs to remain engaged in healthcare and stay connected to their loved ones as they return to their communities.
The smartphones come pre-programmed with applications such as NYC ACCESS HRA and MyCity, and are equipped with rugged cases donated by Premier Wireless. The devices feature customized software developed by Premier as part of its Connecting People to Resources, or "CPR3," program, which helps vulnerable individuals connect to food and shelter, access telehealth services, develop life skills, find mental health support, strengthen relationships, and more.
The CHS reentry service center on Rikers Island has served over 6,300 people, offering visitors MetroCards, Narcan, coffee, directions, and more. The center is staffed by CHS reentry liaisons, who can help connect formerly incarcerated individuals to community-based health and social services, as well as provide naloxone training and kits, and fentanyl test strips to all visitors. The center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 am to midnight.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Rikers Island is connected to a hospital. There is a 104-bed inmate health care center at Bellevue Hospital. In addition, there is also the North Infirmary Command (NIC), which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932.
The health care center at Bellevue Hospital is designed to provide greater care and enhanced programming for inmates. It will have dormitory-style treatment facilities, private rooms, and a new outdoor recreation area.
In July 2023, a smartphone access program was launched to provide free smartphones and wireless plans to vulnerable individuals upon their release from Rikers Island. The program helps individuals connect with healthcare providers, pick up prescriptions, and access jobs, housing, and substance use disorder resources.
Rikers Island has a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. It has been described as a warehouse for people with serious mental illnesses, with a limited number of beds available in state forensic psychiatric hospitals.
