RIKERS ISLAND — A CITY OVERSIGHT REPORT has revealed alarming failures at Rikers Island, citing ignored medical emergencies, falsified logs and unchecked drug circulation following 11 deaths in custody this year, according to THE CITY. The Board of Correction’s review detailed cases of detainees who overdosed or died by suicide after officers failed to lock cells, respond to distress or notify superiors. One detainee, 38-year-old Ramel Powell, was found with 121 pills and synthetic drugs in his cell. Others, including 55-year-old Sonia Reyes and 20-year-old Ariel Quidone, died amid similar negligence.
The report, released Wednesday by the Department of Corrections, urged sweeping reforms, from retraining staff to digitizing logbooks to stop falsified reports.
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