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Staffing shortage at Rikers causing major chaos

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Department of Corrections bus at Rikers Island. (Photo by Erik McGregor/Sipa USA)

New York, NY (77WABC)- It was recently reported that Mayor deBlasio may grant early release (up to 300 criminals) for those being held on Rikers Island due to the staffing shortage of correctional officers.  The shortage has created an extremely tumultuous and dangerous situation for everyone in the prison.

Inmates are running ramped and assaulting each other; even recording footage on smuggled cellphones and creating TikTok videos. Just this week, 24 year old Esias Johnson was found dead inside his jail cell of a suspected overdose, making him the 10th inmate to die this year. Not a great stat…

COBA (Corrections Officer Benevolence Association) stated drugs have easily made their way into Rikers due to the lack of CO’s, resulting in less cell searches, thus resulting in more contraband. Last week,  parties were being thrown in jail cells (yes, you read that correctly- parties!) – footage of the jailbirds dancing, drinking and smoking made their way onto the internet.

COBA President Benny Boscio Jr. blames the NYC Mayor, and told the NY Post the following:

“Maintaining safety and security in New York City’s jails begins with maintaining proper staffing levels … the number of Correction Officers has dwindled down to less than 7,600, including the nearly 1,300 Correction Officers who have resigned since 2019 because of the horrific conditions Mayor deBlasio’s negligence has created. Thanks to his gross mismanagement, we are unable to conduct facility searches for weapons and drugs, inmates aren’t getting their required services, officers, nurses, doctors, and civilians are getting assaulted with impunity,” he stated. “On top of that, officers are being forced to work triple and quadruple shifts without meals and rest.”

 

 

 

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