Justice Department Says Rikers Island Jailers Routinely Abused Teen Inmates
An extensive report by the Justice Department has found that New York's primary jail is an absolute hell for underage inmates.
Shutterstock
An extensive report by the Justice Department has found that New York’s primary jail is an absolute hell for underage inmates.
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, which has also been critical of Rikers after a yearlong investigation, “The report says that correction officers routinely beat young inmates — often about the head — as retribution or punishment, and frequently attacked teenagers even when they were ‘completely subdued’ or ‘never resisting in the first place.’ The report found that between 2012-2013, jail staff used force against adolescents more than 1,000 times, resulting in 2,116 total injuries.”
In addition to physical abuse, Rikers personnel allegedly used solitary confinement “at an alarming rate,” and for nonviolent offenses. Teens found themselves in “the box” for months at a time.
— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer
WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Courts & Law
The impact of junk science in criminal cases is well known, yet family courts continue to allow a disputed psychological theory to persist with little scrutiny.
ProPublica obtained police reports and call logs from more than two-thirds of the shelters housing immigrant children. Here’s what they show.
"Roxy died due to medical negligence by U.S. immigration authorities," a statement from immigrant rights groups says. "Why incarcerate and torture her like this?"
Health & Wellness
Experts say abusive behavior isn't inherent but is culturally learned and therefore can be unlearned.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.