The New York City Council is set to pass a bill requiring the timely release of information following detainee deaths at Rikers Island, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability. Gothamist reports that the Department of Correction would be required to promptly notify families, legal representatives, and relevant city agencies after a death in custody, addressing ongoing concerns about delays in communication.
The bill, initiated by Councilmember Carlina Rivera, sets forth guidelines for investigation and public reporting, alongside the formation of a "jail death review board" to address systemic issues. These new protocols come in the wake of reports from relatives of detainees who claim they weren't immediately informed about the deaths of their loved ones—or had to seek information from external sources. According to Gothamist, Rivera crafted the bill to find a "middle ground" after considering the department's concerns.
Since the start of the Adams administration in January 2022, deaths in city jails have risen sharply, with 19 reported in that year alone—the highest rate in 25 years. Coverage by THE CITY highlighting the lack of transparency around these fatalities helped spur the legislation. Councilmember Rivera credited the outlet, stating, “This legislation directly responds to what is a troubling pattern of secrecy and neglect.”
The bill appears to have robust support within the council and could pass with a supermajority capable of overriding any mayoral veto. Despite the Department of Correction's testimony against certain aspects of the bill—claiming the timelines for notifying family members are too rigid—council members and advocates argue the legislation is a necessary step. Jennifer Parish, director of criminal justice advocacy at the Urban Justice Center, highlighted the need for such measures to THE CITY by emphasizing, "But the past administrations show that we do need to require that the deaths be made public, fully investigated, and that families be given this information right away."
Among the bill's key provisions is the requirement for the Department of Correction to inform the next of kin within 24 hours of a detainee's death. Additionally, the department would have to post basic information about the death on its website following family notification and communicate with the city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Board of Correction promptly.
This legislation comes as an effort to codify certain practices and ensure transparency and dignity for families of the deceased, a priority that was emphasized but not consistently upheld in recent years, as discussed by former Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina. Despite the department's claim that they always notified families before issuing press releases regarding in-custody deaths, the bill insists on comprehensive documentation of their outreach efforts, according to THE CITY.
