Located in East Elmhurst, NY, Rikers Island detains over seven thousand individuals across eight detention facilities and two hospital wings. Although Rikers Island houses a significant portion of all inmates in the New York City metropolitan area, over the past few years, the jail has been scrutinized due to the substandard standard of care provided to inmates in its custody.

In fact, as of September 2025, 12 inmates have passed away at Rikers Island and while in the custody of New York City Department of Corrections which is already double that of 2024. The alarming number of deaths at Rikers Island is occurring amidst the jail’s closure which was originally set to be complete by August 2027 but has since been pushed back to sometime in 2032.

Although the New York City Board of corrections reportedly investigates deaths at the facility, it does not appear that any meaningful change has been made to prevent future deaths from occurring.

If you have a loved one who’s passed away in prison and you are struggling to find answers, speak with a New York City Prison Rights’ Attorney today to discuss your rights. Our dedicated team of civil rights attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case to determine if the jail may be at fault for your loved one’s passing.

We can help when the unimaginable happens.

Pattern of Deaths in Custody at Rikers Island

Rikers Island has a long-standing history of inadequate medical practices and poor supervision protocols which have put inmates at risk of serious injury and even death. In fact, a 2024 report released by the New York City Board of Corrections identified the following deficiencies as contributing factors to the deaths at Rikers Island reported that year:

• Lack of access to medical care, specifically correctional officers’ refusal to allow nursing staff to check vital signs
• Inoperable and malfunctioning cameras
• Inaccurate and inconsistent logbook entries by staff
• Insufficient surveillance in housing areas

Even more alarmingly, a separate 2024 report released by the Board of Corrections revealed that one third of sick call requests made by inmates were not fulfilled and that most detainees were not taken to medical within the required timeline.

The evidence above sheds light onto many of the factors that have contributed to the 12 deaths at Rikers Island this year, especially as there seems to be a common trend among the deaths, with many being due to suspected mental health or medical issues. Of the 12 deaths at Rikers Island this year:

• 5 inmates have been found dead, including one inmate who struggled with serious mental health issues
• 2 inmates died after having seizures
• 2 visibly ill inmates died while receiving medical care
• 1 inmate died due to a possible overdose
• 1 inmate in poor health passed away
• 1 inmate became critically ill while detained at Rikers Island and passed away shortly after he was released

Inmates should never be put at risk of serious injury or death due to a facility’s negligent behavior, especially if the prison’s staff knew of or should have known about the threat posed to the individual. Even in the case where an individual is detained for a short period of time or suddenly becomes ill, it is still the facility’s responsibility to provide adequate care to that individual to ensure that they do not worsen.

New York City Wrongful Death in Prison Lawyer

Although a facility may conduct an investigation regarding a death in custody, it is important for families to perform an independent investigation of their loved one’s death to identify any other factors that may have led to an individual’s death. An experience attorney can help you determine whether a facility is liable for contributing to or causing your loved one’s death so that you can bring a lawsuit forward.

At the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm, our civil rights team led by Jaehyun Oh has experience successfully holding facilities accountable for inmate deaths in New York prisons. Jaehyun Oh was recently consulted as a legal expert in an article published by the Marshall Project, where she explained,

“In a jail or prison, wrongful death can look like staff not responding to repeated medical complaints, delayed care during a medical emergency, or using force in ways that violate policy or training. In these cases, the facility itself — whether run by a county, state, federal agency or private company — or specific staff members involved can be held legally responsible.”

As outlined by Ms. Oh in the Marshall Project article, there are important steps which families can take to protect their rights including sending preservation requests to ensure that any evidence related to the death is preserved and requesting medical and custody records from the prison so that you can conduct an investigation. In addition, families can consider conducting an independent autopsy if one has not been completed which can be used to determine the cause of death.

At the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm, our civil rights attorneys have experience representing incarcerated individuals who wrongfully passed away due to suicide and overdose, and we have also represented individuals who’ve experienced serious injuries as a result of medical malpractice in prison.

Contact an Experienced New York City Prison Rights’ Attorney Today

If you have a loved one who recently passed away in prison, speak with an experienced New York City Wrongful Death in Prison Lawyer immediately. Attorneys at the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm can help you and your loved ones bring a claim forward against those responsible for your loved one’s death.

Jaehyun Oh, Esq. and the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm have a track record of success recovering settlements on behalf wrongfully injured inmates. Contact the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm today for a free confidential consultation.

We can help when the unimaginable happens.