A detainee has died at Rikers Island, marking the 14th death in New York City jails this year.

A detainee passed away on Rikers Island on Sunday, marking the 14th death within New York City jails this year. The identity of the deceased individual has not been disclosed at this time. Reports indicate that a correction officer observed the man appearing unwell in his cell at around 2 a.m. at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center.

Upon recognizing a potential medical emergency, the officer promptly alerted medical staff within the facility, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were subsequently called to the scene. Despite the medical intervention, the detainee was declared dead at 3:15 a.m. at Mount Sinai Queens.

The Correction Department expressed its condolences in an official statement. The department underscored its commitment to the safety and care of those in its custody, vowing to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

This incident follows the death of another detainee at the Otis Bantum facility, 50-year-old Edwin Ramos, who died on November 21. Ramos had been in custody since August on a burglary charge, with a bail set at ,000. According to reports, he was found in medical distress in a bathroom and was taken to the jail’s medical clinic 20 minutes later. He subsequently passed away in a nearby hospital mere hours before a scheduled court appearance for a plea deal that would have allowed him a pathway to begin rebuilding his life outside of incarceration.

The year 2025 has emerged as the deadliest for New York City jails since 2022, when 19 detainees died while in custody. Comparatively, the number of deaths in prior years included nine in 2024, five in 2023, and 16 deaths recorded in 2021, the last year of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.

In a report released by the Board of Correction on November 5, the organization identified significant operational failures that contributed to the initial five deaths this year. These included delays in notifying medical personnel, unsecured cell doors, and lapses in officer rounds and record-keeping.

The recent death occurs amid ongoing litigation stemming from a federal class-action lawsuit, which accused the city of neglecting violence and excessive use of force within the jail system. The case, originally filed in 2011, is currently awaiting a decision from Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain regarding the appointment of an external manager to oversee critical aspects of the jail operations, following a ruling that found the city in contempt of court.

In response to the ongoing legal matters, city officials have been preparing potential appeals, arguing that progress has been made in enhancing safety within the jails.

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