Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Rikers Island Inhumane Conditions Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: Former Rikers Island inmates have filed a class action lawsuit against the City of New York.
- Why: Former inmates claim Rikers Island prison officials subjected them to inhumane conditions during their time they were detained at the correctional facility.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
Rikers Island detainees were forced to endure filthy, inhumane, and violent conditions while awaiting bail, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
“For decades, the City has known that the DOC facilities and the jails at Rikers Island are improperly staffed, are in disrepair, and are dangerous and inhumane,” states the class action lawsuit, which alleges that rising levels of staff absenteeism have led to deteriorating conditions at the correctional facility.
Lead plaintiff Jerelle Dunn, a former Rikers inmate, claims for nearly a week he was placed in a dirty intake cell that had no running toilets with at least 40 other non-mask-wearing inmates, reports the New York Daily News.
Dunn says detainees had to take turns sleeping on the floor and that he had to eat cold, rotting food while awaiting transfer to his own cell.
“During my month of incarceration, I was stripped of my constitutional rights and forced to live in the most inhumane conditions,” Dunn said.
The former Rikers Island inmate claims that, once he was finally out of intake, he was forced to stay in a bug-infested cell with no mattress and no cleaning supplies for a month, reports the New York Daily News.
Dunn says that, when he found blood in his stool, his pleas to get medical attention were ignored for a week.
The plaintiff claims his ability to make bail was also delayed because he wasn’t produced for several court dates by Rikers Island personnel, which delayed his release, reports the New York Daily News.
Rikers Inmates Beaten, Denied Medical Care, Claims Class Action Lawsuit
Dunn and Samuel Semple, another former Rikers Island inmate, want to represent a Class of inmates who were held at the correctional facility on or after April 1.
Semple claims he spent his first eight days at Rikers in a crowded intake cell flooded with overflowing toilet water — adding he was indirectly struck with pepper spray on more than one occasion, reports the New York Daily News.
Semple claims he also missed his court date, prolonging his stay at Rikers, and was at one point attacked by five other detainees who he says beat him with his own cane.
Semple says he finally made bail after being at Rikers for 42 days, during which time he claims he was given no psychiatric care nor his required medication, reports the New York Daily News.
“Rikers should be closed down. It’s no place for a human being. Not even animals should be locked in a cage and ignored,” Semple said.
Rikers Island is far from the first correctional facility to face accusations of inhumane treatment of inmates.
Earlier this year, Hawaiian inmates who filed a class action lawsuit over claims they were not properly protected from COVID-19 reached a settlement agreement with the state.
Class certification was given last month to a group of juvenile inmates in Florida who claim the Florida Department of Justice violated their constitutional rights by placing them in solitary confinement.
Were you forced to stay in dirty and inhumane conditions while detained at Rikers Island? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiffs are represented by Jonathan C. Moore, David B. Rankin, Deema Azizi, Regina Powers, and Liza Batkin of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP, Rob Rickner, Masai I. Lord, and Stephanie Panousieris of Rickner PLLC, and Christopher H. Fitzgerald of the Law Office of Christopher H. Fitzgerald.
The Rikers Island Inhumane Conditions Class Action Lawsuit is Dunn, et al. v. The City of New York, Case No. 1:21-cv-09012 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Juvenile Inmates Placed in Solitary Confinement by Florida DOJ Get Cert in Class Action
- Do You Qualify: Boys & Girls Clubs of America Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit InvestigationReplace link text
- Adults Who Were Sexually Abused in Childhood in California Seek Their Day in Court
- Mormon Sex Abuse Lawsuits Allege Church is More Concerned with Financial Standing
14 thoughts onRikers Island Inmates Detained in Filthy, Inhumane Conditions, Says Class Action
It is still happening now. Inhumane conditions. How do I join the class action?
I hope I don’t get left behind on this class action I was in intake for 8days & I can honestly say that was the worst 4 months ever ! No sun no outside food comes 10hrs late everyday my heart was irritated from all the pepper spray I was sent to an outside hospital and was sent back to the jail which isn’t for medical reason I was sent back to where my health was being threatened I got my ass beat for no reason by E.S.U dragged sprayed and left on the floor until medical came didn’t get no medical attention & was sent right back to my housing unit like nothing never happened. Dudes had their friends from there neighborhoods come spend the night inside any housing area they choose on Rikers island I felt bad for any person with beef between gangs and hoods they was gonna see you regardless it was literally an inmate take over after the CO’s could no longer protect and serve they was scared them selfs it’s really sad on both parts we as detainees shouldn’t be held in cages like animals as for the CO’s they shouldn’t be scared when they chose the job it didn’t choose them & who protects them when they’re lost all hope and control ..
I was incarcerated at Rikers Island for four months from January to June of 2021 and the conditions were horrible and I have no plans to ever return. My cell have a water leaking from melting snow and I had to quickly gather my things from the cell to move to another cell to escape the flooding from the downpour. It was pouring water from the roof down into the cell. The nights are cold cold cold and the officers don’t provide additional blankets without a consent from the doctor. I remember actually having chills and shivering for a many nights at Rikers. Clouds would come from my mouth that’s how cold it is which I remember. Horrible. Deprecit conditions in cells and showers. Disgusting.