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New York City Stops Reporting Rikers Island Deaths Amid Rampant Guard Misconduct
Loaded on July 15, 2023
by Kevin Bliss, Chuck Sharman, Benjamin Tschirhart
published in Prison Legal News
July, 2023, page 24
by Kevin W. Bliss, Chuck Sharman and Benjamin Tschirhart
On May 31, 2023, Luis Molina, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), announced his agency would no longer make public reports of in-custody deaths. Why? Molina blamed the federal monitor overseeing a long-running class-action lawsuit …
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More from this issue:
- Despite #MeToo, Celebrity Justice Remains Massively Unjust, by Matthew Clarke
- Georgia Prison Smuggling Ring Busted, Warden and Former Guard Arrested, by Chuck Sharman
- Pennsylvania Jail Hit With Over $1.5 Million in Overages for Guards, Healthcare, by Kevin Bliss
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- $50,000 Settlement to Texas Prisoner for Feces-Covered Cell
- New Jail Healthcare Provider Coming to Albuquerque – Again, by Kevin Bliss
- Third Connecticut Prison Lockdown in Five Months, by Kevin Bliss
- Guantanamo Prison Down to 30 Detainees, by Jordan Arizmendi
- Fifth BOP Staff Conviction and Sixth Arrest in California Prison ‘Rape Club’, by Jo Ellen Nott
- Tennessee DOC Coughs Up Video of Condemned Prisoner Who Severed Own Penis, by Eike Blohm, MD
- California LGBTQ Pardon Initiative Falls Short, by Chuck Sharman
- Florida Returning Canteen Funds for Prisoner Programming, by Harold Hempstead
- Fifth Detainee Dies in 2023 at California’s Santa Rita Jail, by Jo Ellen Nott
- Ohio Makes Sweeping Changes to Criminal Justice
- New York City Stops Reporting Rikers Island Deaths Amid Rampant Guard Misconduct, by Kevin Bliss, Chuck Sharman, Benjamin Tschirhart
- New York Prisoner Is Released After Conviction Is Vacated, Reinstated and Vacated Once More, by Chuck Sharman
- Seventh Circuit: Attorney’s Submission of Illinois Prisoner’s Grievance Exhausts Administrative Remedies, by David Reutter
- $142,500 Settlement After Pennsylvania Jail Guard Allegedly Knocked Out Detainee and Broke Her Jaw, by Matthew Clarke
- L.A. County Watchdog Takes Aim at “Deputy Gangs”, by Douglas Ankney
- Seventh Circuit Revives Illinois Prisoner’s Claim Over Prison Work Injury, by Matthew Clarke
- Newly Released Government Records Reveal Horrible Neglect of Terminally Ill Woman in Federal Prison, by C.J. Ciaramella
- Prisoner Who Reached $11,400 Retaliation Settlement with South Dakota Jail Tries Again with DOC, by Keith Sanders
- Seventh Circuit: Low IQ and Segregation Placement May Render Administrative Remedies Unavailable to Indiana Prisoner, by David Reutter
- More Success for Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs in Prisons and Jails, by Keith Sanders
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of North Carolina Prisoner’s ADA Claim for Failure to Show Deliberate Indifference, by Douglas Ankney
- California Appeals Court Affirms Rate Caps and Fee Limitations for Prison Telecoms, by Douglas Ankney
- $120,000 Settlement Reached With Long Island Detainee Assaulted by Jail Guards, by Jacob Barrett
- $500,000 Settlement for Texas Man Wrongly Imprisoned for Child Sex Abuse, by Benjamin Tschirhart
- New York Bail Reform Laws Reduced Recidivism, Contrary to Critics’ Claims, by Chuck Sharman
- $150,000 Verdict for South Carolina Jail Detainee’s Groin Injury During Pat-Down, by Eike Blohm, MD
- Texas Prisons are Fire Traps, by Edward Lyon
- Over $7,600 Awarded to Tennessee Prisoner for Retaliatory Cell Search and Transfer
- FCC Granted Broader Authority to Regulate Prisoner Call Costs, by Chuck Sharman
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Prisoner’s Injury Requiring Medical Treatment Not De Minimus, by David Reutter
- California Prisoners Embracing Arts, by Kevin Bliss
- $15,001 Verdict Against Delaware Guard for Gaping Prisoner’s Butt During Strip Search, by Keith Sanders
- Almost 800 Deaths in South Carolina Jails and Prisons Six Years
- Fourth Circuit Revives Virginia Prisoner’s Challenge to Discipline for Allegedly Sexually Harassing Guard, by David Reutter
- Georgia Prisoner Allowed to Proceed on Section 1983 Claim Seeking Execution by Firing Squad, by David Reutter
- Iowa DOC Changes Policy After Ombudsman Calls Out Unfair Prisoner Discipline, by Kevin Bliss
- States Take Legislative Action to Address Family Separation by Incarceration, by Jordan Arizmendi
- Biden Granting More Pardons Than Trump, Fewer Than Obama, by Jordan Arizmendi
- Bad Lawyering, Bankruptcy Torpedo Suit Over Delaware Prisoner’s Death, by Jayson Hawkins
- California Appellate Court: Time Spent in Mental Hospital to Restore Competency is Time Served, by David Reutter
- FCC Requires Prison Telecoms to Provide Services for Deaf Prisoners, by Jordan Arizmendi
- $1.325 Million Settlement after Virginia Detainee’s Opiate Withdrawal Ignored in Jail, by David Reutter
- Nebraska Parole Board Members Showing Up to Work More Often, by Jordan Arizmendi, Chuck Sharman
- The World’s Biggest Prison, by Edward Lyon
- News in Brief
More from Kevin Bliss:
- After Florida Appellate Court Holds Crimes of ‘Attempt’ Eligible for Incentive Gain Time, Supreme Court Refuses Review, Jan. 15, 2025
- LGBTQ+ Detainees at Rikers Island Suffer Under Mayor Adams, Sept. 15, 2023
- Government Watchdog Adds BOP to List at “High Risk” of Mismanagement, Sept. 15, 2023
- At Massive and Corrupt Philippine Prison, Contraband Includes Jacuzzis and Horses, Sept. 15, 2023
- Second Circuit Affirms $600,000 Punitive Damage Award to New York Prisoner Brutally Beaten by Guards, Sept. 15, 2023
- Maryland Sheriff Charged with Illegally Procuring Machine Guns from ATF, Sept. 15, 2023
- Voting Rights Restoration for Virginia Ex-Felons Once Again Subject to Governor’s Whim, Sept. 15, 2023
- Prison Profiteer Who Chairs Christian Seminary Board Called Not Very ‘Christlike’, Aug. 15, 2023
- Menstruation Weaponized Against Women in Prison, Aug. 15, 2023
- Idaho Revives Firing Squads, Aug. 15, 2023
More from Chuck Sharman:
- $30,000 Settlement Reached in Virginia Jail Death That Put Richmond Lockup Under State Oversight, Aug. 1, 2026
- Oregon Reaches $49 Million Settlement with State Prisoners in COVID-19 Class-Action, Aug. 1, 2026
- Ninth Circuit Revives HRDC Challenge to Washington DOC Mail Restrictions, Aug. 1, 2026
- $4.5 Million Paid by Cook County for Detainee Suicide in Chicago Jail, Aug. 1, 2026
- Detroit Pays $5.8 Million to Former State Prisoner Exonerated of Murder After 15 Years, Aug. 1, 2026
- Colorado Pays $245,000 to Muslim Former Prisoner Shaved by Same Guard Who Cost DOC Earlier Settlement with Jewish Prisoner Denied Kosher Meals, Aug. 1, 2026
- $3 Million Settlement Reached with BOP for Attorney’s Fees in Sex Abuse Class-Action from Now-Shuttered California “Rape Club”, Aug. 1, 2026
- $6.35 Million Paid for Ohio Jail Detainee’s Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Guard, Aug. 1, 2026
- Death of Seattle Detainee—Jailed Despite Not Being “Grounded in Reality”—Costs King County $3.5 Million Settlement, Aug. 1, 2026
- $3.25 Million Paid by Georgia After Prisoner Bakes to Death in Outdoor Recreation Cage, Aug. 1, 2026
More from Benjamin Tschirhart:
- Fourth Circuit: South Carolina Prisoner’s Bivens Claim Must Detail Unconstitutional Acts of Each Defendant, April 26, 2024
- Louisiana Sheriffs Repeatedly and Conveniently Destroy Public Records, Dec. 15, 2023
- St. Louis City Jails Director Under Fire, County Jail Director Leaves After Nearly $2.7 Million in Legal Payouts, Nov. 15, 2023
- Condemned Arizona Prisoner Reprieved, Nov. 15, 2023
- Sheep and Sheepdogs: Use and Abuse of Non-Lethal Crowd Control Weapons, Nov. 1, 2023
- New York Jailhouse Lawyer Wins Resentencing, Release, Oct. 15, 2023
- Closed Circuit Cameras: Not the Objective Lenses We’re Told, Oct. 1, 2023
- Former Illinois Guards Sentenced for Prisoner’s Fatal Beating, Aug. 15, 2023
- Police Departments Conspire with Boards to Secretly Install License Plate Cameras Without Consent of Residents, Aug. 1, 2023
- New York City Stops Reporting Rikers Island Deaths Amid Rampant Guard Misconduct, July 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- Warden Out, Nineteen Guards Administratively Charged in Maryland Prisoner’s Death, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Prison/Jail Murders, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Protect (Staff).
- At Least Three Guards Charged for Assaulting Two Massachusetts Prisoners, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Assaults on Staff, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Death of Seattle Detainee—Jailed Despite Not Being “Grounded in Reality”—Costs King County $3.5 Million Settlement, Aug. 1, 2026. Restraints, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Monell Liability.
- Ombudsman Report Finds Use of Force Misapplied in Contraband Search, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Body Cavity Searches, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas.
- Report Shows Pattern of Sexual Assaults in Santa Clara County Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Failure to Protect (General).
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Summary Judgment Against Former Illinois Prison Guards Challenging Termination for Violating Use of Force Policy, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Summary Judgment, Employee Litigation, Vagueness/Overbreadth.
- $6.35 Million Paid for Ohio Jail Detainee’s Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Guard, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Malpractice, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Wrongful Use of Force.
- San Diego Guard Sentenced for Shoving a Shackled Detainee, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, False Statements/Perjury, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Court Records Reveal Alabama DOC Guard Ignored Stabbed Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Medical Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Deliberate Indifference.
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Obstruction of Justice.

