In the past week, two more people have died at Rikers Island within less than 24 hours of one another. On Monday, 41-year-old Rajpattie Ramkellawan, a woman who struggled with mental illness, died of an as-yet undisclosed medical issue. The following morning, 40-year-old Umais Khan was found unresponsive by another person in custody.

These tragic deaths are another painful reminder that far too many New Yorkers, including people with complex medical needs and mental health challenges, continue to cycle through a system that is not designed to care for them. The long-term solution requires sustained investment in community-based supports and services that can prevent unnecessary detention in the first place, including mobile mental health treatment teams and a continuum of emergency, transitional, and supportive housing.

Incidents like these underscore the urgency of finally closing Rikers Island and continuing to advance a more humane and effective approach to justice: one that responds to homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and other complex needs with care, treatment, stability, and support rather than incarceration whenever possible.