Rampant Sex Abuse Against Women In Rikers Will Be Investigated: Mayor
Hundreds of women who say they were abused in Rikers Island seek a combined $14.7 billion in damages, a bombshell Gothamist report found. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is investigating allegations of rampant sexual abuse against hundreds of women by guards at Rikers Island, which led to a total of $14.7 billion in damages sought by lawsuits. The accusations, which date back decades, allege that Rikers officials knew or should have known about the abuse committed by guards and other staff. The report also revealed that 719 lawsuits were filed by women who had been housed at the troubled jail. The mayor defended the situation, stating he was unaware of the accusations until reading a report by Gothamist that detailed the scale of the abuse. The investigation comes amidst calls for a federal takeover of Rikers, which has led to calls for more deaths in jail or Department of Correction custody since Adams took office.
Опубликовано : месяц назад от Matt Troutman в Politics
NEW YORK CITY — Accusations of rampant sexual against hundreds of women by guards in Rikers Island that led to a combined $14.7 billion in damages sought by lawsuits will be investigated, said Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams contended Tuesday that he was unaware of the scope of accusations until he read a bombshell Gothamist report released that morning. The Gothamist report delved into 719 lawsuits filed by women, who had been housed at Rikers, under a one-year window for sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits outside the statute of limitations.
The women's accusations span decades and contend officials at the troubled jail knew, or should have known, about abuse committed by guards and other staff. "I believe that we need to have a complete investigation to determine the outcome of it," Adams said.
He has fought against a growing chorus of officials and advocates who have called for a federal takeover of Rikers. The report also came just days after a man — Michael Savage, 51, died in city jail custody. He was the 31st person to die in jail or under Department of Correction custody since Adams took office, advocates with the Katal Center said.
"Every week news continues to break about the horrors unfolding at Rikers," said Melanie Dominguez, lead organizer for the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, in a statement. "The situation is untenable and cannot continue like this – it will only lead to more death and harm. Rikers must be shut down."