NYC correction board: People are being locked in their cells for longer than allowed

Incarcerated people are being locked in their cells at Rikers Island for long stretches of time that violate city regulations, kept from accessing recreational activities and medical services, and are even being denied meals, officials said on Monday.

The Board of Correction, which sets regulations for the city jails, released a seven-page report about the proliferation of so-called “lockdowns,” or “lock-ins,” in which incarcerated people have to stay in their cells for hours on end. While lockdowns are only supposed to be used in emergencies, the report said lockdowns are a regular part of life at two large Rikers jails, effectively preventing incarcerated people from going to the infirmary, visiting family, accessing the law library, attending religious services, using the phone, taking educational classes, and even showering.

“Accordingly,” the report said, “lockdowns also contribute to growing tension in the facilities that they visited.”

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