China Mac: "On Rikers island there's Protocol'...

What is Rikers Island — and why does it matter Rikers Island is New York City’s main jail complex. It houses people who are awaiting trial (many not yet convicted) as well as some serving short sentences. Over the years, the complex — made up of multiple jails — has become known for systemic neglect, extreme violence, overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, lack of adequate medical or mental-health care, and widespread human-rights abuses. Many detainees suffer from mental illness; the jail’s behavioral-health failures exacerbate these issues. Because of these conditions, Rikers has long been a symbol of the failures of mass incarceration and pretrial detention — well beyond just New York. ⚠️ Deaths, Violence, and Human Rights Crisis at Rikers Rikers has seen long-standing patterns of violence, neglect, and a high number of deaths — often preventable. Key facts: From 2001 through 2019, more than 370 people died in New York City jails (including Rikers). Since 2015 — when a federal consent decree and monitoring were supposed to begin reforms — conditions have worsened. The rate of violence (stabbings, assaults) has increased dramatically. 2022 was the jail system’s deadliest year in decades: 19 people died in custody at Rikers. In 2025 (as of recent reports), there have already been multiple deaths — including cases where detainees died shortly after being admitted or due to medical emergencies while in custody. Oversight bodies and human rights advocates have repeatedly described the situation as a “humanitarian crisis” — citing rampant neglect, denial of basic needs (medical care, sanitation, hygiene, safe housing), failure to protect vulnerable people (including those with mental illness), and chronic mismanagement. In short: Rikers has become not just a jail — but a lethal environment for many who enter it. The toll in lives lost and trauma inflicted has fueled calls for its total shutdown and replacement with more humane alternatives.Five Mualimm-ak was born abroad and moved to the U.S. as a youth. In his early 20s he was sentenced to 33 years to life for drug-related offenses. He spent a total of 12 years incarcerated, and of that time, five years were in solitary confinement. His convictions were later mostly overturned, and he was released in 2012. Activism & Reform Work Since his release, Five has become a prominent advocate for criminal-justice reform, especially around solitary confinement, reentry support, and the rights of formerly incarcerated people. He founded and leads Incarcerated Nation Network (often shortened to “INC” or “Incarcerated Nation Corp.”), which organizes and supports people directly impacted by incarceration. He also co-founded Jails Action Coalition (JAC), one of the earliest grassroots watchdog groups monitoring jail conditions in New York. His activism helped influence policy — including reform efforts to reduce or end long-term solitary confinement in New York’s prisons and jails. Current Focus & Vision Five is also the architect of the Youth Anti‑Prison Project (YAPP), which supports justice-impacted young people released from prison: providing mentorship, housing, education, job training — with a trauma-informed approach. Through storytelling, public speaking, policy advocacy, and community organizing, he works to shift the public narrative: arguing that those most harmed by incarceration should lead the fight for healing, dignity, and systemic change. Five’s message is clear: “Closing Rikers Island is more than an effort to save lives — it’s about dismantling a system built on centuries of pain.” 🧠 Why This Matters — and What It Illustrates The crisis at Rikers isn’t just a matter of mismanagement: it reflects systemic injustice — pretrial detention of poor people who cannot afford bail; neglect of mental-health needs; racial disparities; and institutional culture that dehumanizes inmates. The death toll, ongoing abuse, and repeated failures under oversight—despite decades of reforms promised — show that incremental “improvement” has often meant more harm, not less. Activists like Five Mualimm-ak — people who have lived the system — play a vital role: documenting what’s happening, speaking truth to power, organizing survivors, and pushing for radical change (not just reforms). The push to shut down Rikers and replace it with smaller, community-based alternatives is not merely symbolic — it's a response to a human rights emergency. www.incarceratednationnetwork.com