Weekly Service to Strengthen The Spirit
The New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform (NYJCCJR) is proving that everyone possesses a basic right to spiritual reflection despite their circumstances. The group, made up of 29 Jewish associations from New York City, takes a weekly trip to Rikers Island. Here, they share prayers, songs, scriptures, and connect with those in custody awaiting trial. This visit is not just a spiritual respite for those in detention, but also a stark reminder of a human rights issue happening in our very city.
State of Affairs at Rikers
Rikers Island is home to people struggling with mental illness, poverty, and addiction. They wait months, sometimes years, for their trial to commence, with deteriorating mental and physical health. For some, they leave in worse shape than they arrived, facing homelessness, hospitalization, and possibly another jail term. All these happen against a backdrop of tired staff, crumbling buildings, and scant resources.
Rikers: New York’s Largest Mental Facility
Unsettlingly, Rikers acts as New York State’s biggest ad-hoc mental institution, accommodating 20% individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Despite the hefty price tag of over $500,000 per person yearly, residents grapple with violence, a fallout of facilities, lack of programs, and staff shortages. This interferes with their ability to access much-needed medical, mental health care, court dates, or even educational and legal services.
The Path to Closure and a Start to Remedies
Rikers is, however, set to shut down by 2027. The closure entails significantly reducing the jail population by investing in city-wide services such as work-release programs, mental health initiatives, and more. Expectedly, these resources need to be added to as soon as possible, rather than wait for the set 2027 timeline. This action will not just enhance safety, but also save New York City over $1 billion annually.
Inadequate Resources for Mental Healthcare
Despite such affirmative plans, the resources for mental healthcare are insufficient. For instance, Justice Impacted Supportive Housing (JISH), designed to reduce jail, shelter, and hospital populations, was expected to grow from 120 to 500 units. However, the low funding discouraged providers from applying. Fortunately, this year’s city budget included an extra $6.4 million to fund the existing 120 JISH units and create 380 more. Scaling up such resources could prove beneficial to those returning from Rikers.
Healing for All: The Need of the Hour
When the NYJCCJR meets those in Rikers, it prays for strength and healing for everyone affected: the ill, the vulnerable, victims of crime, and prisoners. Locking individuals up, particularly those with mental illness, addictions, or no home, for years without trials does more harm than good. It’s not safe, it’s harmful, costly, and regressive.
So What Can We Do?
In the wake of all these issues, what can be done? The NYJCCJR, led by Lissy and chaired by Rabbi Haber, forefronts a more compassionate approach. The focus is on extending care and healing to each other. The upcoming closure of Rikers Island offers an opportunity for New York City, and society at large, to reflect and reshape its justice system.
Remember, everyone plays a part in enacting change. That’s the only way we can nurture a more empathetic and equal society. No one should be left behind.