According to a new report by the New York Daily News, the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is forcing incarcerated New Yorkers with mental illness to languish in makeshift solitary confinement and depriving them access to critical medical care.

“This report has us seething. To condemn one of the most vulnerable populations at Rikers Island – people diagnosed with mental illness – to makeshift solitary cells, while depriving them of essential medical care, is downright cruel,” said Tina Luongo Chief Attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society.

“For anyone who still takes City officials at their word that DOC has ceased to employ solitary confinement, today’s troubling reporting should clear any confusion,” they continued. “The City continues to default to isolation instead of care, even in specialized units that claim to treat mental illness. Solitary is torture, and its continued use is both illegal and immoral.”

In 2021, Legal Aid filed a class action lawsuit against DOC over its failure to provide medical care to people in custody. Since the initial filing, conditions have only worsened, as today’s reporting demonstrates. Legal Aid is considering all litigation options moving forward to protect New Yorkers who have been subjected to this inhumane treatment.

“One thing is absolute: the City cannot manage its jails safely and a federal receivership is necessary,” Luongo said. “While Rikers Island must be closed forever, the culture of abuse that pervades daily operations in our jails must end today.”