FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2021

“Last night, another individual died in custody at Rikers Island. The 11th tragic death this year. 

It has been brought to my attention that this person was being held on a minor technical violation, and was only 12 hours away from being eligible for release under the newly signed Less Is More Act. 

The Less Is More Act was intended to eliminate minor technical parole violations as a means of detention, and yet, there are still instances where individuals are being held under these circumstances. At such an urgent moment on Rikers Island, it is indefensible to be continuing to detain individuals on minor, technical violations, particularly if they are medically vulnerable.

I strongly urge Governor Hochul and Mayor de Blasio to go to Rikers and see the conditions for themselves. This is a full blown humanitarian crisis, and they must act with the utmost urgency to prevent another death inside our city jails.”

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