Ethan Rhodes
Rikers Island, a complex of ten jails, has been criticised for its reputation for violence, abuse, and neglect of inmates. The facility, which can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees, has been the subject of numerous negative news reports and judicial scrutiny, resulting in rulings against the New York City government. Rikers Island has become known for housing a large number of people with psychiatric issues, with some mentally ill detainees spending years moving between jails and state forensic psychiatric hospitals without ever standing trial. The island, which is set to close by 2026, includes the North Infirmary Command (NIC), which houses inmates with acute medical conditions or disabilities, and the original Rikers Island Hospital, built in 1932. Additionally, there is an off-site inmate care centre at Bellevue Hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital attached to Rikers | North Infirmary Command (NIC) |
| Year of construction | 1932 |
| Who does it cater to? | People in custody with acute medical conditions, people with disabilities, and some general population detainees |
| Other hospitals that cater to Rikers inmates | Bellevue Hospital Center, Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward (EHPW), Queens |
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What You'll Learn
- Bellevue Hospital Center's psychiatric prison ward treats Rikers inmates
- Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward treats female detainees
- North Infirmary Command houses Rikers inmates with acute medical conditions
- Rikers inmates with psychiatric problems often face trial delays
- Rikers Island has a reputation for violence and abuse
Bellevue Hospital Center's psychiatric prison ward treats Rikers inmates
Rikers Island has long been criticised for its 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 facility has also been scrutinised for its treatment of mentally ill inmates, who are often stuck in a cycle between state forensic hospitals and city jails, causing them to remain in the system for years without ever standing trial.
Bellevue Hospital Center's psychiatric prison ward in New York treats inmates from Rikers Island who require psychiatric care. When inmates at Rikers become too sick, violent, delusional, or suicidal for the jail to handle, they are sent to Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward for treatment. The prison ward is located within a secure area of the hospital.
Dr Elizabeth Ford, a psychiatrist who treats patients at Bellevue, has stated that her job is to "try to look past" the charges against her patients, "to care for them, to be curious about them and to be non-judgmental". She has found the work to be "incredibly rewarding" and has published a memoir, Sometimes Amazing Things Happen, which details her experiences treating inmates at Bellevue.
In 2024, a new 104-bed inmate health care centre was being built at Bellevue, one of three such centres intended to allow inmates to stay in a hospital until they are well. The centre will have dormitory-style treatment facilities, private rooms, and an outdoor recreation area.
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Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward treats female detainees
Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward (EHPW) in Queens is a secure facility that treats female detainees from Rikers Island. The ward is one of two off-site prison wards in New York City hospitals that cater to the female detainee population of Rikers Island, the other being Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward (BHPW).
Rikers Island is a complex of ten jails that hold local alleged offenders awaiting trial. It is not a prison by US terminology, as it holds offenders serving sentences of one year or less. The island has a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. It has been described as a "warehouse for thousands of people with psychiatric problems," with many detainees moving back and forth between jails and state forensic psychiatric facilities for months or years before standing trial.
The Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward provides medical care for female detainees who require it. The ward is located off-site, which can make accessing treatment difficult for detainees, especially those who are feeling sick and weak. The journey between Rikers and the hospital can be arduous, and some inmates may decline treatment to avoid the trip.
The ward treats female detainees with various medical conditions and provides infirmary care for those with acute illnesses or disabilities. It also houses some general population detainees. The facility offers dormitory-style treatment facilities as well as private rooms, and there is an outdoor recreation area.
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North Infirmary Command houses Rikers inmates with acute medical conditions
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) is a facility within Rikers Island that houses inmates with acute medical conditions. It consists of two buildings, one of which is the original Rikers Island Hospital built in 1932. The North Infirmary Command provides infirmary care for inmates with acute medical issues or disabilities that require housing compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, it accommodates some general population detainees.
Rikers Island, located in New York, has gained a reputation for violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of its inmates. The facility has been scrutinized by the press and judiciary, resulting in numerous rulings against the New York City government. The complex, comprising ten jails, holds local alleged offenders awaiting trial and those serving sentences of one year or less. It is not considered a prison by US terminology, as it typically accommodates offenders serving longer sentences.
The island was sold to the city in 1884 and has had a varied history, including being used as a military training ground during the Civil War and a dumping ground for garbage in the early 20th century. Over time, Rikers Island has become known as New York's largest mental institution, with thousands of people suffering from psychiatric problems. The constant rotation of these individuals between state forensic hospitals and city jails has resulted in prolonged detention without trial.
To address the medical needs of inmates, Rikers Island has established an inmate care center at Bellevue Hospital, with additional sites planned for Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn and North Central Bronx. These initiatives aim to improve access to healthcare for inmates and reduce the burden of travelling back and forth between the jail and hospitals.
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Rikers inmates with psychiatric problems often face trial delays
Rikers Island in New York has gained a reputation as the city's largest mental institution, with thousands of inmates with psychiatric problems. The facility, which is due to close by 2026, has been criticised for its violence, physical and mental abuse, and neglect of inmates. Many detainees with severe mental health issues have been transferred back and forth between jails and state forensic psychiatric facilities, causing long delays before they stand trial.
In one case, James Dolo, a 38-year-old homeless man with a history of psychiatric hospitalizations, was charged with attempted murder after pushing a woman onto subway tracks in the Bronx. He spent nearly two years in a state forensic psychiatric hospital before being moved to a public hospital, city jails on Rikers Island, and back to the forensic hospital. Eight years after the incident, he has still not been convicted of a crime.
Another inmate, Bradley Ballard, who suffered from schizophrenia, was sent to Rikers in 2013 for a parole violation. He was later transferred to the psychiatric prison ward at Bellevue Hospital Center, where he stayed for 38 days. After making inappropriate gestures at a female officer, he was locked in his cell for seven days without access to medication or medical treatment. Ballard died at the age of 39, with his genitals swollen and badly infected.
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) on Rikers Island houses inmates with acute medical conditions, disabilities, or those requiring infirmary care. The facility includes the original Rikers Island Hospital, built in 1932. Additionally, the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward (BHPW) is a secure facility for female detainees. The arduous journey between Rikers and hospitals for basic care has been criticised as a daunting task for sick and weak inmates. The city has invested in new initiatives for the inmates, including supplemental education programs.
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Rikers Island has a reputation for violence and abuse
Rikers Island has 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 by Mother Jones magazine. The facility has seen a documented increase in violence, with 9,424 assaults in 2015, the highest number in five years. The complex, consisting of ten jails, holds local alleged offenders awaiting trial. The New York Times reported on the case of Bradley Ballard, who was sent to Rikers in 2013 on a parole violation. Ballard was later transferred to the psychiatric prison ward at Bellevue Hospital Center, where he stayed for 38 days. He was then sent back to Rikers and locked in his cell, where he died after seven days without access to medical treatment or his medication. This incident highlighted the issues of abuse and neglect within the facility.
The North Infirmary Command (NIC) at Rikers Island includes the original Rikers Island Hospital, built in 1932. It houses individuals in custody with acute medical conditions, disabilities, or general population detainees. The island also has an inmate care centre at Bellevue Hospital, which aims to provide easier access to medical services for those feeling sick and weak.
Rikers Island has become known as New York's largest mental institution, warehousing thousands of people with psychiatric problems. Detainees with severe mental illnesses are often moved back and forth between jails and state forensic psychiatric facilities for months or years before standing trial. This endless rotation has resulted in some mentally ill individuals staying in the system for extended periods without ever receiving a trial.
The facility has attracted significant press and judicial scrutiny, leading to numerous rulings against the New York City government. In October 2019, the New York City Council voted to close down Rikers Island by December 31, 2026. The decision sparked debates about the future use of the land, with proposals ranging from clean energy projects to housing developments or airport expansions. The closure of Rikers Island aims to address the issues of abuse and neglect within the facility and improve the treatment of individuals with mental health issues in the criminal justice system.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is a hospital on Rikers Island. The North Infirmary Command (NIC) is one of the two buildings that make up the North Infirmary Command. The hospital was constructed in 1932 and treats inmates with severe medical conditions, disabilities, or those who require housing that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Yes, there are a few other hospitals that treat inmates from Rikers Island. These include the Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward (EHPW) in Queens, Bellevue Hospital, and the Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn.
The hospital on Rikers Island has been criticised for its poor conditions and neglect of inmates. There have been reports of inmates being denied access to medical treatment and medication, resulting in deaths.
Rikers Island is scheduled to close by the end of 2026, and there are ongoing debates about the future use of the land. While some propose building housing or extending the runway at LaGuardia Airport, others suggest using the land for clean energy infrastructure or a wastewater treatment plant.
