The Scars of Rikers Island: Families Impacted by the Crisis in New York City Jails

Thu, Feb 2 2023
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Central Library, Info Commons Lab

Justice Initiatives

Rikers Island is a 400-acre jail complex with 10 jails that has caused harm to thousands of New Yorkers, and in 2019, City Council passed a law mandating its closure by 2027. But conditions at Rikers remain dangerously unsafe and have worsened. In just the last two years, 35 people have died in New York City's Department of Corrections (DOC) custody on Rikers, and its extension The Boat (a floating jail in the Bronx). Join a panel of New Yorkers who lost loved ones in DOC custody for a conversation about their family members, the enduring crisis in New York City jails, and the changes they want to see made. Moderated by Andre Ward, host of the WBAI radio program On The Count: The Prison and Criminal Justice Report.

A reception will precede the panel discussion at 5pm

10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238 Get Directions
Add to My Calendar 02/02/2023 06:00 pm 02/02/2023 07:30 pm America/New_York The Scars of Rikers Island: Families Impacted by the Crisis in New York City Jails <p>Rikers Island is a 400-acre jail complex with 10 jails that has caused harm to thousands of New Yorkers,&nbsp;and in 2019, City Council passed a law mandating its closure by 2027. But conditions at Rikers remain dangerously unsafe and have worsened. In just the last two years, 35 people have died in New York City's Department of Corrections (DOC) custody on Rikers, and its extension The Boat (a floating jail in the Bronx). Join a panel of New Yorkers who lost loved ones in DOC custody for a conversation about their family members, the enduring crisis in New York City jails, and the changes they want to see made. Moderated by Andre Ward, host of the WBAI radio program On The Count: The Prison and Criminal Justice Report.</p> <p><em>A reception will precede&nbsp;the panel discussion at 5pm</em></p> <p><img alt="" height="1197" src="https://static.bklynlibrary.org/prod/public/images/on%20the%20count.png" width="1170" /></p> Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library, Info Commons Lab MM/DD/YYYY 60