Rally held for Charizma Jones and Anthony Jordan, demanding reform in NYC jails

September 12, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Rikers Island, the notorious New York City jail complex, has been at the center of growing controversy over inadequate medical care and preventable deaths, including the recent passing of 23-year-old Charizma Jones. Critics argue the facility's dangerous conditions are leading to a worsening crisis for detainees. Photo: Ted Shaffrey/AP

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Family members of Charizma Jones, community advocates, and elected officials gathered at Foley Square on Tuesday to rally against the ongoing crisis in New York City jails.

The event comes in response to the deaths of Jones and Anthony Jordan, which protesters say highlight systemic failures in the city’s jail system. Attendees called on public officials to take immediate action to prevent further deaths and ensure the safety of detainees.

Jones, a 23-year-old Rikers Island detainee, died in July after a prolonged medical emergency. According to reports, Jones repeatedly sought medical attention for a severe illness, but her pleas were allegedly ignored by Department of Correction (DOC) staff. After weeks of inadequate care, Jones was transferred to a hospital, where she later died.

Reports indicate that Jones’ family and legal representatives have called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death, raising concerns about the denial of medical care in the jail system.

The DOC has not officially counted her death in their records, as she was released from custody shortly before she passed. This practice is becoming increasingly common, with critics arguing that it is a tactic used to deflect attention from the severe dangers of Rikers Island.

By releasing detainees shortly before their deaths, the DOC avoids including them in official death tallies, which advocates say obscures the full scale of the crisis within the jail system and diminishes accountability for the lives lost under their watch.

The rally also addressed the death of Anthony Jordan, another detainee who recently died while in DOC custody. Advocates explained that these deaths are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of negligence and mistreatment in the city’s jail system. As noted in reports, since Mayor Eric Adams took office in 2022, at least 32 individuals have died in or shortly after leaving city custody.

Reports indicate that 23-year-olds, like Charizma Jones and others, are dying in Rikers Island due to a combination of neglect, inadequate medical care and systemic failures within the jail. Critics point to overcrowded conditions, staff shortages, and the frequent denial of medical attention as key factors contributing to these preventable deaths. The jail’s reliance on punitive measures, such as solitary confinement, and the overall lack of oversight and accountability exacerbate the risks for young detainees, leading to a growing crisis where basic human rights and safety are routinely ignored.

Speakers at the event, including advocates from the Jails Action Coalition and the #HALTsolitary Campaign, demanded that the city halt the use of solitary confinement, improve medical care for detainees, and reduce the number of individuals being sent to jails like Rikers Island. They argued that the jail system’s failures are policy choices that endanger the lives of incarcerated individuals, and they urged city leaders to take immediate steps to address the ongoing crisis.

Reports have also detailed other deaths at Rikers Island that raise similar concerns, including those of Donny Ubiera and Tarz Youngblood, both of whom died while in custody under questionable circumstances. The deaths of Jones, Jordan, and others have prompted calls for transparency and accountability from the Department of Correction, with critics accusing the agency of withholding vital information about the conditions leading to these tragedies.

Amidst growing pressure, oversight agencies such as the New York State Commission of Correction and the New York City Board of Corrections have launched investigations into the deaths at Rikers Island, including Jones’ case.