Time to Close Rikers Island

More than 6,000 people are incarcerated on Rikers Island in a jail that is supposed to be a temporary holding facility. The New York City Comptroller reported that since January 2022 twenty-six people have died while in custody in New York City jails. The exact number on Rikers is uncleared and the city has stopped providing information about deaths. Comptroller Brad Lander said the jail system and Rikers dysfunctional and there are calls for a federal monitor to take over the jail from the city. Rhiannon Rashidi explores why she and others think it is time to close Rikers Island. Listen to the podcast.