Two men held on Rikers Island died within a week of each other last month, marking the first two deaths in NYC Department of Correction (DOC) custody this year. City jail conditions remain under scrutiny as a federal judge mulls a third-party takeover and the borough-based jails continue construction.
Ramel Powell, 38, died while held on Rikers Island on Feb. 19, although little else is known. Terrence Moore died in Manhattan from a medical emergency while waiting to appear in court on Feb. 24. The 55-year-old was held in the North Infirmary Command, Rikers’ jail for people with acute medical conditions.
DOC commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie extended her sympathies in a statement to both men’s families and promised a full investigation for the deaths.
Related: Traffic deaths rose in Black communities despite Vision Zero gains (amsterdamnews.com)
Current oversight stems from the Nunez v. City of New York lawsuit alleging excessive force in city jails against people in custody. The parties ultimately settled, which included court-ordered reforms.
Last November, a judge held the city in contempt for failing to properly implement those mandates and opened the door to install an independent receiver to take over the facilities and operations until the changes are met. The lawsuit parties were ordered to return with proposals earlier this year.
Debra Greenberger, a partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP who serves as co-counsel for the Nunez plaintiffs, says most paperwork for potential receivership frameworks are in and awaiting review.
“These two recent deaths are not part of that determination … the remedy that we have sought is the remedy of [a] receiver, and we’re still seeking that remedy and it remains urgent,” said Geenberger over the phone.
The city reportedly floated Maginley-Liddie to serve as a de facto receiver while retaining her current role heading the agency, lauding her tenure since stepping in December 2023. Greenberger says investigating whether the two deaths were preventable may shine more light on whether “the worst harm of people in custody” continues under the current leadership that the city proposes to oversee the Nunez reforms.
Beyond receivership, Rikers Island is mandated to close by 2027, although delays for the borough-based jails constructed as a replacement remain setback by delays. On Jan. 23, the city confirmed none of the four facilities would be completed by the deadline in roughly two years.
The jails — placed by the criminal courts of each borough save Staten Island — would provide faster transport to and from the court appearances and would provide a more “humane” space for reentry and rehabilitation. Medical clinics would also be within close proximity of each housing unit.
Under the borough-based plan, Moore would likely be housed next to the courthouse he experienced his emergency in. Currently, people in custody are transported from Rikers Island to their corresponding borough.
“It’s been two decades since I was on Rikers Island going back and forth to court, but what I recall is they wake you up between 3 a.m. [and] 4 a.m … they load everybody basically on the bus,” said Freedom Agenda co-director Darren Mack. “You probably won’t see a judge until after one o’clock. Some people don’t see a judge at all.”
Mack, a leading proponent for Rikers’ closure, says while Rikers Island remains open, the city can help those currently in custody by providing social services and reducing the existing population.
“All these things that we’ve advocated for years, like alternatives to incarceration, these are all programs and services that’s been proven to be effective [and] addresses the mental health crisis in our city and develops real community public safety,” said Mack.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member who writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.