Abuse at Rikers Island Must End

For decades, New York City’s Rikers Island jail has been dysfunctional, traumatizing, and even deadly. Fifteen people died in custody in 2025 alone.

Despite years of federal oversight, reform efforts have repeatedly failed. People incarcerated on Rikers Island simply can’t wait any longer for conditions to improve.

With your help, the Vera Institute of Justice will keep pressuring the city to honor its commitment to closing Rikers Island and ensure that its systemic failures are not simply transferred to new jail facilities.

Sign Vera Institute of Justice's petition if you agree: Abuse at Rikers Island must end.

Action Collective