The Legal Aid Society and Queens Defenders are mourning the loss of Dashawn Jenkins, a 27-year-old client who was held in custody on Rikers Island. Mr. Jenkins is the fifth person to die in Department of Correction custody this year.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dashawn Jenkins at Rikers Island last night. We express our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones,” reads a statement from the organizations. “His untimely death, just one day after his 27th birthday, makes this tragedy all the more devastating and demands an immediate, swift, and independent investigation.”

“This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis unfolding at Rikers Island,” the statement continues. “This needless loss of a young life underscores the urgent need for the immediate appointment of an independent body, such as a receivership, to take over the City’s jail system.”