Does Building Better Jails Go Far Enough?

As New York looks to replace Rikers Island, some say a focus on more humane jail design is largely beside the point.

‘The Whole Thing Upsets Me’: Mayor Finally Visits Rikers

As Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the jail for the first time in four years, federal officials signaled a lack of faith in the city’s ability to manage the troubled complex.

‘I Just Want to Be Normal’: A Mentally Ill Man’s Death at Rikers

Esias Johnson had been in and out of Rikers Island during his two years in New York. A captain and two correction officers have been suspended in connection with his death.

Members of Congress Urge Biden to Intervene at Rikers as de Blasio Plans Visit

In a letter to President Biden on Friday, several Democrats said New York City “cannot be trusted” to manage the jail complex, which has descended into chaos.

Why Is Rikers Island Still Open?

A spate of deaths and a mounting culture of violence at New York City’s largest jail renew calls for an emergency solution.

Why Is Rikers Island Still Open?

A spate of deaths and a mounting culture of violence at New York City’s largest jail renew calls for an emergency solution.

12th Death in Custody This Year Signals Growing Crisis in N.Y.C. Jails

The man who died was being held at the Vernon C. Bain Center, a floating jail barge docked just north of Rikers Island.

N.Y.C. Sues Jail Officers, Saying Illegal Strike Worsened Rikers Crisis

The lawsuit said that there was no plausible explanation for a “staggering” number of absences by correction officers this year other than a concerted and illegal job slowdown.

An American Journalist Sits in Prison as Myanmar Suppresses Dissent

Danny Fenster on Monday was ordered to remain in confinement. The court hearing marked his 120th day in custody after being detained by the junta in May.

Hochul Orders Release of 191 Detainees as Rikers Crisis Deepens

The New York governor signed a bill on Friday that authorized the release of the detainees, but the population of the city’s notorious jail will remain far higher than it was last spring.

Opinion | The Endless Catastrophe of Rikers Island

The mayor promised to close the jail years ago, but the situation there is as desperate as it’s ever been.

10 Deaths, Exhausted Guards, Rampant Violence: Why Rikers Is in Crisis

A number of recent deaths have prompted questions about the notorious New York City jail complex. Here are some answers.

Justice Dept. to Investigate Georgia Prisons

The department also announced limits on federal officers’ use of widely criticized policing tactics.

With Rikers in Crisis, Critics Wonder: Where Is Bill de Blasio?

The mayor is facing growing calls to address chaotic and violent conditions inside New York City’s vast jail complex.

Israel Captures 4 of 6 Palestinian Fugitives Who Escaped Prison

The escape on Monday was seen as a rare humiliation of Israel’s security establishment, and was celebrated by Palestinians. The other two inmates were still at large on Saturday.

At Least 41 Prisoners, Some Trapped in Cells, Die in a Fire in Indonesia

The blaze at the facility west of Jakarta highlighted the problems of the country’s overburdened correctional system.

Curtis Flowers Sues Prosecutor Who Tried Him Six Times

Charges were dropped in 2019 against Mr. Flowers, who spent 23 years in prison after he was accused of killing four people at a Mississippi furniture store.

White House Weighs Clemency to Keep Some Drug Offenders Confined at Home

Biden officials are exploring what should be done with inmates in home confinement whenever the pandemic emergency ends.

On Death Row in Texas, a Last Request: A Prayer and ‘Human Contact’

Scheduled for execution on Sept. 8, John Henry Ramirez is suing to have his Baptist pastor lay hands on him as he dies.

Justice Dept. to Close Troubled Jail Where Jeffrey Epstein Died

The 233 people being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center will be moved, at least temporarily, while officials address conditions there.