New York Daily News | Dec 19, 2020 at 5:05 PM Four city correction officers and a captain were ambushed by an inmate at Rikers Island, in an unexpected attack that left … They all independently claimed it was difficult to get medical attention unless you had a fever and displayed several symptoms of COVID-19. Hundreds of Chinatown residents protest Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to close Rikers Island, Oct. 6, 2019. Another man who was recently released from Rikers earlier this month also claimed his final screening was rushed, saying he never had his temperature taken and was not given a face mask or gloves before his release. / CBS News. Rikers Island Under Massive Quarantine, City Data Show By Spectrum News Staff New York City PUBLISHED 12:43 PM ET Apr. But many caseworkers have been working from home, making it difficult if not impossible for some patients to get support before they are released. (CNN) As coronavirus cases began spiking in New York City in March, officials … "This is no joke. Modified June 18, 2020. Rikers Island (/ ˈ r aɪ k ər z /) is a 413.17-acre (167.20-hectare) island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx that is home to New York City's main jail complex. Dear Ms. Wax, I am writing regarding conditions at the correctional facilities located on Rikers Island, in my district. Edition Rikers Island Worker Blows Whistle On COVID-19 Risk In Infamous New York Jail More than 1,300 people in the New York City jail system have tested positive for the virus, according to the city's Department of Corrections. One was captured a short time later. In 2014 a homeless ex-marine essentially baked to death in a hot cell, a week after an arrest for trespassing. Four correction officers at Rikers Island were sent to the hospital after getting attacked by an inmate, union officials said Saturday. Cuomo: Vaccine rollout depends on how fast hospitals use up doses, California Privacy/Information We Collect. Shelters are also overwhelmed, the employees said, and some inmates will ultimately end up on the streets. Most inmates technically remain in the custody of the city Department of Corrections but are allowed to serve the remainder of their sentence at home. "I didn't want them to go out getting groceries, so now I can go and do those things, looking out for them and making sure the house is clean," he said. "We're releasing them to shelters or programs with no resources," a CHS employee said. But former inmates, health care workers and advocates say the release process is overwhelmed, offering little guidance for some inmates who are suddenly thrust back into society, many of whom may have been exposed to the virus themselves. COBA: 4 Correction Officers Injured in Inmate Attack at Rikers Island By Spectrum News Staff Manhattan PUBLISHED 3:43 PM ET Dec. 19, 2020 PUBLISHED December 19, 2020 @3:43 PM Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein fell sometime Sunday morning while at Rikers Island jail, his spokesperson Juda Englemayer told CNN. Several said blaring alarms that signal fights could be heard at nearly all hours of the day and night. ", First published on April 29, 2020 / 2:41 PM. Advocates have complained that Rikers is ill-equipped to handle people with mental illness, who in 2014 made up 40% of its population. "People are very aggravated. December 27, 2020 | 4:23pm. ", Back home, Lopez said his wife began giving him turmeric, red onions, ginger and sea moss twice a day, which he attributes to helping clear up congestion in his lungs. My brother got it. Officials say four corrections officers were attacked by an inmate on Rikers Island Friday. How did rioters breach the U.S. Capitol on January 6? The judge said he would ask that Weinstein be held in Rikers’ infirmary, one of eight jails on the 400-acre complex. A CHS spokesperson said people entering and leaving the jail undergo medical and mental health screenings. These programs are meant to help inmates transition back into the community by lining up housing, health care, job training and more. Most inmates at Rikers are awaiting trial and cannot afford bail. "I sit in my cell, I write music, I do sudoku puzzles. Enlarge Image. Reach him at: justin@cbsnews.com. Live Updates: Nearby fire prompts brief security scare at Capitol, Militia group suspects, Army Reservist charged in Capitol riot, These Trump supporters still don't believe Biden will be president, Biden plans executive action on immigration, but warns of delay on bill, Jailed Russian opposition leader calls on supporters to "resist", National Guard troops being vetted as they arrive to guard Capitol, "Cowboys for Trump" founder arrested by FBI, Trapped gold miners send up a desperate note begging for help, Anonymous donor gives $40 million to fund 50 civil rights lawyers, Full coverage: Assault on the U.S. Capitol, Securing the Capitol for the Biden-Harris Inauguration. One of the largest correctional facilities in the world, Rikers has become a symbol of brutality in the largest US city. Investigations by reporters and government watchdogs have identified problems with how the jail treats the mentally ill, juveniles and anyone who falls sick. So, there's no way for us to plan for them getting out, and there's also no way for us to ensure that their service is in place," one CHS employee said. March 31, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. UTC. But there's people close to me who are getting it. New York City operates 11 jails, eight of which are on Rikers Island. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Norway says no link between vaccine and elderly deaths, WHO chief rips COVID vaccine inequalities: "It's not right", Fired Florida COVID data scientist arrested: "Censored by the state". "The whole world is out of work, but I'm happy to be home, I'm grateful," Lopez said. November 21, 2020. It's unclear how many confirmed virus cases are within the complex, but as of Tuesday, there were 1,384 people sickened by the virus in city-run jails, including 1,005 Department of Corrections staffers and 379 inmates. The employees, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said many health care workers have called out sick or now work remotely, adding further strain to an already stressed system. We're just trying to stay clean and safe here by not going out much and just riding it out like everybody else is.". "I didn't want to spread the virus to my family," Lopez told CBS News. the notorious Rikers Island jail in New York. Updated on: April 8, 2020 / 12:37 PM / CBS News An inmate housed at New York City's Rikers Island died after contracting coronavirus, his legal team announced Monday. A Rikers Island guard had several of his front teeth knocked out by … More than 2,200 people have been set free across the city since March 16, according to the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. A lot of people who have been to prison made bad choices, and some people got hurt, but thankfully, these people are gonna come back to the community — whether we like it or not. Sentencing is scheduled for 11 March. There are a lot of pieces that need to be coordinated when people are leaving. "I was never given no type of release plan or an opportunity to see a psychiatrist if I needed it because of what was going on inside. Also in 2014, the US justice department found that facilities for juveniles at Rikers were extremely violent and unsafe. by Matt Clarke. Gottesfeld said those services are still available once someone gets out, but "it's better when we work with them pre-release so we can make sure there's a plan for them. Together, the two sex crimes of which the film producer was convicted carry a possible sentence of 29 years. There was no follow-up plan.". Updated on: Dec 27, 2020, 6:21pm EST. How DHS plans to secure the Biden Inauguration, Small protests held at heavily guarded state Capitols, Capitol rioter known as "QAnon Shaman" will be jailed until trial, Major airlines banning guns in checked bags to D.C. airports. FILE - This June 20, 2014 file photo shows the Rikers Island jail complex in New York with the Manhattan skyline in the background. In August 2020, New York City agreed to settle a lawsuit over the death 15 months before of a Dominican-born transgender detainee who died of epileptic seizures while in segregation at the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) on the city’s Rikers Island jail complex. The City Council of New York voted 36-13 Thursday to approve a plan to close the city's notorious jail complex on Rikers Island by 2026 in ... www.npr.org Disgraced Hollywood mogul due to transfer to the notorious New York prison as he awaits sentence for rape and sexual assault, Last modified on Tue 25 Feb 2020 14.23 EST. "People need help. A Rikers Island guard got his teeth knocked out after finding two inmates in a restricted area late Saturday night. Caseworkers typically work with inmates to develop a personalized plan inside the jail prior to release. As the pandemic began to ravage New York last month, the city started releasing inmates who were held on technical parole violations or awaiting trial on minor crimes from Rikers and other facilities. April 29, 2020 / 2:41 PM / CBS News Reynaldo Lopez was released from New York City's Rikers Island jail last month after spending two months behind bars on a parole violation. A Rikers Island corrections officer has his damaged teeth inspected. I study my case. Several said they watched officers sweep up sick inmates in the middle of the night and discard all of their belongings. His lead attorney, Donna Rotunno, told reporters he was sent there because of chest pains, palpitations and high blood pressure. news coronavirus politics 2020 elections entertainment life personal video shopping U.S. "That lack of easy communication and connection makes discharge planning, in a systematic and comprehensive way, very challenging," said Susan Gottesfeld, executive vice president and chief program officer at the Osborne Association, a re-entry organization that now provides all of its services virtually, including case management, job training, substance abuse treatment and health care. He said they all developed a bad cough along with shortness of breath. RIKERS ISLAND lost two inmates after they escaped the fortified prison Thursday, Your Content has learned. This 2014 photo shows the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City. Dec 27, 2020, 6:21pm EST. It is possible Weinstein could be held at Rikers until it closes, though a number of factors will affect the length of his stay. 02, 2020 Courtesy of the Department of Correction For hundreds of young people on Rikers Island trying to finish high school, even Zoom is out of reach. After he was released on March 31, he spent the next 14 days self-isolating away from his family, huddled in a bedroom with his essentials: books, weights, and his cellphone, with no clear cut plan for his future. Sources say that inmate said he escaped with another man, who has not yet been located, News 4 reports. Jails and prisons, where social distancing is nearly impossible, have emerged as potent breeding grounds for the new coronavirus. December 28, 2020 12/28/2020 5:22 pm NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- An inmate at Rikers Island knocked a guard's front tooth out in an attack over the weekend, union officials said on Sunday. Michael Tyson, a … Supposedly named after Abraham Rycken, who bought the island in 1664, the island was originally under 100 acres (40 ha) in size, but has since grown to more than 400 acres (160 ha). Four Rikers correction officers were rushed to the hospital after what their union reps call an unprovoked attack by an inmate who is a Bloods gang … A DoJ report said teenage inmates were subject to “rampant use of unnecessary and excessive force”. A current inmate blamed the fights on the lack of recreation since most dormitories are under quarantine. ", At his former job, Lopez helped former inmates adjust to life after prison. A year after Browder was released, the Associated Press detailed how medical care at the jail, or the lack of it, had been cited as a factor in at least 15 deaths in five years. Feb. 25, 2020, 1:03 AM UTC / Updated Feb. 25, 2020, 2:26 AM UTC By Doha Madani Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein was rerouted to a New York City hospital Monday night as … August 18, 2020. He's feeling better and better. Our Local Correspondents ... News Desk A Rikers Island Doctor Speaks Out to Save Her Elderly Patients from the Coronavirus. Incarcerated people describe life on Rikers Island as the pandemic spreads. The city has prioritized releasing inmates who were being held for violating parole, serving a jail sentence of less than one year or awaiting trial on current charges. The pandemic has forced the caseworkers tasked with implementing re-entry programs to the sidelines. The Slatest Coronavirus Cases Are Spreading Rapidly on Rikers Island Soap and space are still in short supply as at least 231 incarcerated people and 223 staff members test positive for COVID-19. ... March 10, 2020 . © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Justin is an assistant managing editor at CBS News. Lopez, two inmates currently inside and another person who was recently released, said tensions at Rikers are at an all-time high. ", "[The pandemic] really shines a light on our willingness to lock up more people than we really need to be and it's testing the way our criminal and legal system makes decisions about who is taken into custody and who can be released in less restrictive supervision in the community.". Dana Wax Deputy Chief of Staff New York City Department of Correction 75-20 Astoria Blvd. By Sonia Moghe, CNN. Rikers Island, Harvey Weinstein's new home, is a byword for prison brutality This article is more than 10 months old Disgraced Hollywood mogul due … "There was a sense of dread — that everyone was going to die," Lopez said. Rikers Island, one of the largest correctional facilities in the world, contains eight jails within its 400-acre site. Harvey Weinstein tried to silence and blame victims. News; 6 guards, 15 others charged in Rikers Island drug-smuggling bribery case ... Posted Jan 14, 2020 . My dad just lost his uncle, he was 83. He spent half that time in solitary confinement and was beaten by corrections officers. East Elmhurst, NY 11370. He attempted to kill himself multiple times before his case was dropped and he was released in 2013. Weinstein was meant to go to Rikers, which sits in the East River between the Bronx and Queens, from the courtroom in lower Manhattan. We're scared of dying here," one Rikers inmate said. 17 Rikers Island officers face discipline in transgender woman's death Justin Carissimo 6/27/2020 Advisory panel meets to decide who should get first Covid vaccines By Julia Craven. "You have a mass amount of guys getting released when no one is there. April 29, 2020 / 2:41 PM "Sometimes it feels like sending people to their deaths," one of the CHS employees said. Two employees with Correctional Health Services (CHS), the city agency that oversees inmate care, confirmed that many inmates at Rikers can't get the help they need due to the sheer volume of people being released. The 50-year-old was greeted with a home-cooked meal — fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans and cornbread — but he couldn't hug his wife, Millicent, when she welcomed him back to their home in the Bronx, out of fear that he could expose her to the coronavirus. Raymond Rivera, one of the inmates who died, was also being held on a parole violation at Rikers, by far the city's largest jail complex. He said without the support of his wife, who maintained contact with his lawyer and produced reference letters for the judge, his release would have been "impossible. Newsletter ... 2020. He said he is enjoying time with his family and hopes to go back to school to earn a master's degree in social work. Prior to an inmate's release, health care workers screen and identify anyone who may have COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and advise them to self-isolate. Non-profit organizations that can provide support have set up hotlines, distributing numbers throughout jails, but have found that identifying clients from the outside can be hit-or-miss. It is not clear how prosecutors there will proceed. When might you get Biden's $1,400 stimulus check? The Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island houses men 18- to 21-years-old. The man who was released from Rikers earlier this month said it was a relief to be back home with his family members, who are over 60 years old. Seventeen officers with the Department of Correction will be disciplined following a transgender woman's death at Rikers Island, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Three inmates have died, along with 10 staffers. The most notorious case in recent history at the complex is the death of Kalief Browder, a teenager from the Bronx who was accused of stealing a backpack. In October 2019, New York politicians voted to close the jail by 2026. Last year, Layleen Polanco, a transgender woman, was found dead in her cell two months after being sent to Rikers because she could not afford $500 in bail. At trial it no longer worked, The six women who accused Harvey Weinstein at his trial, and what they said. But Weinstein also faces charges in Los Angeles. The 53-year-old prisoner died at a Manhattan hospital Sunday after hundreds New York inmates were released to … ... Nearly 800 inmates have been quarantined in New York City jails, mostly on Rikers Island, the New York Daily News reported Saturday. Harvey Weinstein, feted for decades at Hollywood parties and galas, is set to become one of about 7,000 people held at the notorious Rikers Island jail in New York. 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