Claire Dawson
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. It is one of the largest jail facilities in the country, with about 6,000 people incarcerated there as of June 2024. The island is named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of it in 1664, and has been referred to as the world's largest penal colony. While Rikers Island does not have an attached hospital, it does have a North Infirmary Command (NIC) that houses inmates with acute medical conditions and those who require infirmary care. Additionally, there are plans to build a special care centre at area hospitals, where inmates can stay until they recover. One such centre is being built at Bellevue Hospital, with two others scheduled to open at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx in 2027.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | East River in the Bronx, New York, United States |
| Area | 413 acres (167.14 hectares) |
| Number of jails | 10 |
| Number of detainees | 6,000-15,000 |
| Security and safety issues | Violence, cleanliness violations, stabbings/slashings, fire incidents, etc. |
| Healthcare facilities | North Infirmary Command (NIC), Bellevue Hospital Center, Woodhull Hospital, North Central Bronx |
| Racial demographics | 58.3%-58.5% Black, 42% Black youth |
| Future plans | Closure of the complex, construction of housing or extension of LaGuardia Airport runway |
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What You'll Learn
- The North Infirmary Command (NIC) is a hospital on Rikers Island
- Rikers Island is one of the world's largest correctional facilities
- The complex consists of ten jails and holds detainees awaiting trial
- Inmates have been treated at Bellevue Hospital Center, off-site
- The prison has been described as “more violent and less safe than other US jails
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) is a hospital on Rikers Island
Rikers Island, a 413-acre island in the East River in the Bronx, is home to New York City's largest jail complex. The complex consists of ten jails and is not considered a prison by US terminology, as it holds offenders serving sentences of one year or less. The island has been described as the world's largest penal colony, housing both correctional and mental institutions.
The North Infirmary Command is one of the many facilities within the Rikers Island complex. Other notable facilities include the James A. Thomas Center (JATC), formerly the House of Detention for Men, and the Brooklyn Detention Complex (BKDC), which housed male detainees awaiting trial. The Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC), completed in 1978, is the largest facility on Rikers Island, housing detained and sentenced male adults.
The complex has been the subject of controversy, with campaigns calling for its closure due to concerns over criminal justice and incarceration practices. In 2013, a case involving the death of an inmate, Bradley Ballard, who was denied medical treatment, brought attention to the issues within the facility.
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Rikers Island is one of the world's largest correctional facilities
Rikers Island is a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York. Named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664, the island was originally under 100 acres in size but has since expanded to over 400 acres. The island is politically part of the Bronx, with a bridge being the only access available from Queens.
Rikers Island is the site of one of the world's largest correctional facilities and mental institutions. It has been described as New York's best-known jail. The complex, operated by the New York City Department of Correction, consists of ten jails and can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees. It holds people who are serving sentences of one year or less or are temporarily detained, pending transfer to another facility. Therefore, by US terminology, Rikers is not a prison, as prisons typically hold offenders serving longer-term sentences.
The complex includes the Robert N. Davoren Complex, the Eric M. Taylor Center, the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, the George R. Vierno Center, the Anna M. Kross Center, the George Motchan Detention Center, the Rose M. Singer Center, the North Infirmary Command, and the West Facility. The North Infirmary Command, which used to be called the Rikers Island Infirmary, is used to house inmates requiring extreme protective custody, inmates with special health needs, mentally ill inmates, and inmates undergoing drug detoxification. The Anna M. Kross Center, completed in 1978, is the largest facility on Rikers Island.
Rikers Island has been the subject of controversy and scrutiny, with reports of surging incidents of stabbings and slashings, as well as cleanliness violations. There have also been concerns raised about the use of pepper spray on mentally ill detainees and the denial of medical care to inmates, resulting in deaths. In 2016, a campaign was launched calling for the closure of the Rikers Island Jail Complex.
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The complex consists of ten jails and holds detainees awaiting trial
Rikers Island is a 413-acre prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York. It is named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664. The island has grown from its original size of under 100 acres to over 400 acres. It 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, consists of ten jails and holds detainees awaiting trial. It is not a prison by US terminology, which typically holds offenders serving longer-term sentences. It holds 10 of the New York City Department of Correction's 15 facilities and can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees. The jails on the island include the Robert N. Davoren Complex, the Eric M. Taylor Center, the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, the George R. Vierno Center, the Anna M. Kross Center, the George Motchan Detention Center, the Rose M. Singer Center, the North Infirmary Command, and the West Facility.
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) consists of two separate buildings, one of which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. It houses people in custody with acute medical conditions who require infirmary care or have a disability that requires housing that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The NIC also houses some general population detainees. The Otis Bantum Correctional Center (OBCC) has dormitory and cell housing and was named for its second warden. The Robert N. Davoren Center (RNDC) primarily houses detained and sentenced males and young adults. The Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) is an 800-bed facility for female detainees and sentenced women in custody. The Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC) is the largest facility on Rikers Island, housing detained and sentenced male adults in a facility spread over 40 acres.
Rikers Island has been criticised for its violent and unsafe conditions. There have been reports of cleanliness violations, including issues with bugs and mice. The facility has also faced scrutiny for its use of pepper spray on mentally ill detainees without first consulting mental health staff, as required by policy. In April 2023, a fire was set by an inmate, injuring 15 jail staffers and five inmates. There have also been concerns about the denial of food and access to toilets and showers, as well as high rates of COVID-19 infection.
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Inmates have been treated at Bellevue Hospital Center, off-site
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 facility. The island is named after Abraham Rycken, a Dutch settler who took possession of the island in 1664. The complex consists of ten jails and holds local alleged offenders awaiting trial, people serving sentences of a year or less, and those temporarily detained pending transfer to another facility.
Rikers Island is not a prison by US terminology, which typically holds offenders serving longer-term sentences. However, it has been referred to as the world's largest penal colony. The island is politically part of the Bronx, with a bridge from Queens being the only access point.
While Rikers Island does have an on-site hospital, the North Infirmary Command (NIC), inmates have also been treated at Bellevue Hospital Center, off-site. In 2013, inmate Bradley Ballard was sent to the psychiatric prison ward at Bellevue Hospital Center, where he stayed for 38 days before being sent back to Rikers. In 2024, it was announced that a 104-bed inmate health care centre was being built at Bellevue, one of three such centres, so that inmates in need of care can stay in a hospital until they are well. The other two centres are at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx.
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) at Rikers Island consists of two separate buildings, one of which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. It houses people in custody with acute medical conditions and those with disabilities that require housing compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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The prison has been described as “more violent and less safe than other US jails
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. It is named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664. The island was originally under 100 acres in size but has since expanded to over 400 acres. The complex, operated by the New York City Department of Correction, consists of ten jails and can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees.
Rikers Island has been described as "more violent and less safe than other US jails." This assessment is supported by several accounts of violence and neglect within the facility. For example, in 2013, Bradley Ballard, a schizophrenic and diabetic inmate, was locked in his cell for seven days without access to his medication or medical treatment. When officers finally responded, Ballard was found naked, unresponsive, and covered in feces. His genitals were swollen and badly infected due to self-inflicted injuries. This incident highlights a concerning lack of oversight and medical care within the prison.
Additionally, Rikers Island has been criticised for its failure to adequately protect inmates from gang violence. The facility has a significant gang presence, including the Latin Kings, Ñetas, and the New York Bloods. New inmates, especially those from minority backgrounds, often become targets for gang-related violence and are forced to join gangs for protection. This dynamic contributes to a culture of violence and fear within the prison.
The prison has also been scrutinised for its treatment of individuals with mental health issues. Inmates with mental illnesses may be placed in solitary confinement or punitive segregation, exacerbating their mental health struggles. The lack of adequate mental health services and the use of punitive measures contribute to a cycle of criminalisation and further marginalisation of individuals with mental illnesses.
Furthermore, the design and infrastructure of Rikers Island contribute to its unsafe environment. The complex is laid out in a way that hinders effective supervision, with blind spots and areas where officers cannot easily observe inmate activity. This lack of oversight allows for gang activity to flourish and makes inmates more vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
To address these issues, the New York State Commission of Correction issued a report in February 2018 citing numerous violations and a significant increase in violent incidents from 2016 to 2017. The report suggested that the state might move to close Rikers Island before the city's 10-year deadline. In October 2019, the City Council voted for an $8 billion plan to close the prison by 2026 and replace it with four borough-based jails.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but it does have a North Infirmary Command (NIC) which consists of two buildings, one of which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. The Adams administration is also building a 104-bed inmate health care centre at Bellevue Hospital, where inmates can stay until they are well.
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 facility. It is one of the world's largest correctional institutions and mental institutions. The complex consists of ten jails and can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees.
The island is named after Abraham Rycken, a Dutch settler who took possession of the island in 1664. The island was originally under 100 acres but has since grown to more than 400 acres. It was used as a military training ground during the Civil War and was sold to the city in 1884.
