Rikers Island Sees Two More Deaths Amid Rising Incarceration

Deaths Increase Pressure on Adams Administration as Jail Population Climbs

Two men died while in custody at New York City Department of Correction facilities, officials announced Friday. These deaths, one of which involved a detainee held on misdemeanor charges, have intensified concerns surrounding conditions at Rikers Island and the rising jail population.

Recent Fatalities

Benjamin Kelly, 37, was discovered in distress within his cell at the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island around 3 p.m. He had been arrested on May 20 in Queens on low-level charges. Officials pronounced him dead at 3:31 p.m.

The second individual suffered medical distress on a bus en route to the Taylor Center, often used for new admissions. Staff attempted resuscitation, but the man, recently discharged from a hospital and entering custody for the first time, was declared dead 19 minutes later at 4:49 p.m.

Authorities are investigating one death as a possible suicide and the other as an overdose, according to sources.

“The news of two more lives lost on Rikers is heartbreaking,”

—Councilwoman Sandy Nurse, Chairperson of the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee

The recent deaths bring the total jail-related fatalities this year to seven. In 2024, there were five deaths, and nine in 2023, after 19 in 2022 and 16 in 2021.

Growing Incarceration Rates

The deaths occur as New York City’s jail population has significantly risen, surpassing 7,000 in March for the first time since 2019. The jail population on Friday was 7,562. This marks a 39% increase from the 5,430 individuals held on January 7, 2022, shortly after Mayor Adams took office.

Correction officials have attributed the increasing population to the consequences of a 22-day state prison guards strike. Approximately 2,000 state guards who refused to return to work were fired, causing staffing shortages. As a result, state prison authorities declined new admissions, thereby increasing the jail population.

In response, the agency, with approval from the Board of Correction, has reopened or expanded housing areas. Additionally, more men are being moved to the Rose M. Singer Center, the women’s jail.

“The life of every single person in our care is valued and Friday was profoundly tragic for the department as two individuals lost their lives,” said Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. “Our deepest sympathies are with their loved ones. These incidents will be investigated thoroughly.”

Controversy and Scrutiny

The Correction Department recently proposed opening mail outside of detainees’ presence to check for drug contraband, but the Board of Correction rejected it.

In early May, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain ruled the city was in contempt of court orders related to violence and force within the system. She demanded the hiring of a “remediation manager” to oversee key jail operations. This was a setback for the Adams administration, which argued it could manage the problems internally, despite years of contrary evidence detailed in reports by the federal monitor.

The rise in fatalities began with Ramel Powell, 37, who died in the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on February 19 due to a synthetic marijuana overdose. Terrence Moore, 55, died in custody on February 24 after suffering a seizure before a scheduled court appearance. Ariel Quidone, 21, died in March after collapsing at the Robert N. Davoren Center due to untreated appendicitis. Sonia Reyes, 50, died on March 20, while Dashawn Jenkins died on March 31. The causes of death for Moore, Reyes, and Jenkins remain under investigation.

According to the New York City Comptroller, the jail population has decreased to 6,700 as of November 2023, though this is still a relatively high number compared to pre-pandemic levels (NYC Comptroller).

The repeated deaths and increasing jail population continue to put pressure on the city’s correctional system. They are also a stark reminder of the challenges in addressing the conditions at Rikers Island.