Rikers death count rises again
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Another man, Michael Brown, has died on Rikers Island, the DOC announced. AP File photo by Seth Wenig
By Rachel Vick
The death toll inside New York City’s jails rose to 14 late Tuesday night, the Department of Correction announced on Dec. 15.
William Brown, 55, died while in custody at the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island after being found in medical distress. His cause of death remains under investigation.
Brown entered DOC custody exactly one month earlier.
“I am devastated to know that another person entrusted in our care has passed away,” said Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi. “We will work diligently to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.”
Brown’s death is the second in five days – Malcolm Boatwright experienced medical issues and died on Friday, Dec. 10.
The Legal Aid society, who represented Brown, said his death “is unconscionable and could have been prevented had those in power listened to the calls from defenders and others to decarcerate our City jails.”
“Without systemic changes that address the criminalization of poverty and the underfunding of mental health services, as well as a shift from the default reliance on law enforcement to respond to a myriad of societal issues, these tragedies will only continue,” they said in a statement. “We need solutions that strike at the root cause of these issues, including investment in preventive resources.“
The DOC counts Brown’s death as the 14th to occur by a detainee in DOC custody this year, the deadliest in the city’s jails since 2016. Two other individuals died following compassionate release, but the connection to the conditions inside the facilities has prompted many advocacy groups — including LAS — to view the count at 16.
As the deadliest year on Rikers Island in recent history comes to a close, advocates have continued to lean into the call for decarceration and systemic reform through legislation focused on addressing the root causes of crime.
“With just over a week before many of us will be celebrating Christmas, we now have a sixteenth family grieving the unnecessary and traumatic loss of their loved one in New York City’s jails,” said Jerome Wright, statewide organizer of the #HALTsolitary Campaign and member of the Jails Action Coalition. “If the city can’t keep people in jail safe, then they shouldn’t be locking people up at all.”
“While some continue to fear-monger against bail reform and the movement for decarceration, our families are losing our loved ones in jail right now. With the resurgence of COVID behind bars, life-saving action is only more urgent,” he added. “Put a stop to the deaths so we can begin to heal and build real community safety.”
