Questions Linger Following Death of a Young Woman in Rikers

Nothing about 27-year-old Layleen Polanco's death while in custody at a city jail makes sense — at least not at first glance.

First, she was being held in solitary confinement for her role in a fight even though the practice is increasingly seen as archaic and inhumane.

Second, she was in jail in the first place because she couldn't pay $500 bail, even though many lawmakers believe cash bail unfairly punishes the poor.

Third, she had been arrested in the first place for prostitution and low-level drug possession charges at a time when city police have steered away from enforcing both of those crimes.

"All the sort of off-ramps that were supposed to help them remove her from the criminal justice system after that, none of them actually took her out of the system," said reporter Rosa Goldensohn, who has been writing about Polanco's death for The City website. "So it really raises questions about how the system deals with people."

The Department of Correction reported that the transgender woman was found unconscious in her cell last week, and that so far an investigation has found no sign of violence. Officials have reportedly said she died due to a seizure disorder — though that has raised additional questions about why she was left alone.

Click the play button to hear Goldensohn's full interview with WNYC's Richard Hake.