SURVIVORS OF RIKERS & IMPACTED FAMILIES CELEBRATE CITY COUNCIL BILLS THAT WILL INCREASE TRANSPARENCY FROM DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

Freedom Agenda members and partners in the Campaign to Close Rikers laud City Council’s passage today of an important bill establishing transparency procedures regarding deaths in DOC custody. Intro 423, sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, defines specific protocols for the Department of Correction (DOC) to follow on notifying next of kin, the public, and oversight agencies after a person dies in custody, and public reporting surrounding such deaths, and any staff misconduct cases related to them. 

These bills come on the heels of a particularly deadly period in the city jails, with five people dying in DOC custody in a six-week span from mid-February through early April and three more deaths since then - contributing to a total of 41 people who have died in DOC custody or immediately after release since Eric Adams took office. Conditions have also worsened as the Adams administration has increased arrests and urged expanded use of pre-trial detention, along with hundreds of sentenced people being held there due to the crisis in the state prisons.

“A jail sentence should never be a death sentence, yet for too long, a culture of dysfunction, dehumanization, and deadly violence has persisted in our city jails. My legislation responds directly to a troubling pattern of secrecy and neglect that has kept grieving families shut out when they deserve answers, access to records, and their loved one’s personal belongings. Amid continued brutality and abuse, City Council, advocates, and impacted families are stepping up to demand accountability and action. New Yorkers deserve nothing less than the full truth about what happens in our jails,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

“On September 22, 202, my daughter got a phone call from my son’s friend. Then, I heard her screaming and yelling. She looked at me and said ‘Ma, your son is dead.’ It was the worst news of my life. I couldn't breathe because no one told me anything - his mother, the person who made him. I thank the City Council for doing what's right and passing this bill. Next, we need to close Torture Island down. Decarcerate and put that money back in my community,” said Lezandre Khadu, member of Freedom Agenda and mother of Stephan Khadu.

“I feel that every person deserves dignity and respect, even when incarcerated. Intro 423 ensures that families are notified in a timely manner when someone passes away in custody, promoting transparency and accountability. Plus, transparency and accountability are essential in our justice system. Intro 423 takes a step in the right direction by requiring timely notifications for families and oversight agencies,” said Cynthia Acevedo, member of Freedom Agenda and sister of Gregory Acevedo.

“Nothing can bring back my brother. But the treatment my family received from the Department of Correction deepened our pain. The crushing news of any human being’s passing should be delivered with care and compassion to those who love them. And we should have transparency about the failures that led to their death. I’m grateful to the City Council for honoring our pain and our humanity by passing Intro 423,” said Amariliz Torres, member of Freedom Agenda and sister of Erick Tavira.

Darren Mack, Co-Director of Freedom Agenda said “We wish we could ensure that no one ever dies behind bars again. Hopefully, we can prevent these tragedies as much as possible by reducing the jail population and ultimately closing Rikers. But also as long as anyone is incarcerated in New York City, there is an obligation to ensure transparency, accountability, and respect for loved ones when the worst happens. We applaud Council Member Rivera and Speaker Adams for passing Intro 423, and for holding the administration accountable to the legal and moral obligation to close Rikers.”

"We commend Council Member Rivera, Speaker Adams, and the entire Council for their efforts to impose some level of transparency and accountability when a person dies in Department of Correction custody — which unfortunately occurs with alarming frequency and often in unconscionable circumstances. Protecting the health and wellbeing of all persons in custody is a fundamental responsibility of the Department. Any death in custody deserves a full investigation and public reporting, and the person's family should be treated respectfully when informed of the death and given information about the circumstances. The procedures that this bill requires are common sense, and should be routine, but the Department's track record of concealing deaths and completely disregarding the families of people who have died in custody makes this bill absolutely necessary," said Jennifer J. Parish, Director of Criminal Justice Advocacy, Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project.

“Council Member Rivera, along with her colleagues and Speaker Adams, deserves commendation for the passage of Intro 423. In our nation, incarceration should not equate to a death sentence. For too long, a culture devoid of empathy and humanity, marked by persistent violence, has continued in our city jails. The NYC Department of Correction's decision to cease public notifications of deaths in custody was deeply troubling, knowing the profound impact such actions have on families and loved ones. For over a decade, I have directly supported grieving NYC families as they sought answers and accountability, assisting with funeral arrangements, raising funds for private autopsies, and connecting them with legal and community resources to navigate the often dehumanizing process of retrieving information or a loved one’s belongings. This legislation represents a significant step toward creating a more just and morally aligned criminal justice system,” said Chaplain Dr. Victoria A. Phillips, co-director of the Jails Action Coalition and lead organizer for the BEYONDrosies Campaign.

"No one should die in jail. While Rikers remains open, we need legislation like Intro 423 to ensure the highest level of respect and transparency in communication to the grieving families. But this does not solve the underlying problem. We must work tirelessly to close Rikers and improve conditions for detained people, ensuring there are no more deaths in custody," said Michelle Howard, Chief Program Officer, Osborne Association.

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