Family members of Rikers Island inmates express safety concerns following stabbing at jail

Family members with loved ones incarcerated on Rikers Island say they're worried for their safety after a stabbing on Monday.

News 12 Staff

Apr 7, 2022, 11:54 PM

Updated 914 days ago

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Family members with loved ones incarcerated on Rikers Island say they're worried for their safety after a stabbing on Monday. 
The Department of Correction confirmed to News 12 that three people in custody were assaulted on Monday by other inmates and that they've arranged for those involved in the incident to be put in protective custody. The DOC says the incident is under investigation. 
Joanne Delapaz says her son was hospitalized after he was stabbed on Monday. Delapaz says her son was released back to jail on Thursday after telling her he was terrified to return.  
"I'm just standing here as a parent to voice out for the safety concerns not only for my child but for others," said Delapaz.  
News 12 reached out to Council Member Tiffany Caban's office, whose district includes Rikers Island. She said the jail is a human rights atrocity and called for its decarceration. 
In a statement a DOC spokesperson said, "We will not tolerate violence of any kind in our facilities, and we take assaults of people in our custody very seriously. We are pursuing rearrests of the individuals involved."