More than 370 people have died in NYC jails since 2001
Most jailhouse deaths go unnoticed by the broader public — and information remains scarce.
Jason Echevarria died in 2012 after eating chemical detergent when Rikers Island correction officers declined to get him medical help. Carina Montes and Jose Cruz committed suicide in 2003, even though they were on suicide watch. Layleen Polanco died in June after suffering a seizure while trapped in solitary confinement.
The four detainees’ deaths generated significant media coverage and prompted public outcry — but scores of others have died in New York City’s jails, and their deaths have gone under the public radar.
At least 372 people have died in New York City Department of Correction custody since 2001, according to DOC records shared with the Eagle.
Information provided by the Correctional Association of New York and the office of Assemblymember David Weprin, chair of the State Assembly’s Committee on Correction, place the death toll at 374, with different totals in a few years. That two-death disparity is unclear, as specific records are difficult to obtain.