Testimony on the Conditions of New York City Jails

The current conditions at Rikers Island are not only inhumane, they are deadly. Ten people at Rikers have died this year, which is significant increase from previous years. Of course, news of the deplorable conditions at Rikers is not new. However, as the population of Rikers has ballooned back to pre-pandemic levels, living conditions for those incarcerated have only gotten worse. It is imperative that city leaders take several actions to remedy this situation.