Over the course of just four days last week, two people, 49-year-old John Price and 39-year-old Barry Cozart, died while in the custody of the NYC Department of Correction. Their deaths are a stark reminder of the urgency of the work ahead to close Rikers Island.

New York City must continue to reduce the jail population, move people with complex medical and mental health needs out of Rikers and into appropriate care, and invest in community-based alternatives that prevent unnecessary detention. The City’s commitment to closing Rikers remains essential, and it must be matched with sustained action to ensure no more lives are lost in a system that has long failed to meet basic standards of safety and care.

Our thoughts are with their loved ones as they grieve this loss.