United States · New York · East Elmhurst, NY
Rikers Island
Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.
For families
How to send mail, money, and visit Rikers Island
Step-by-step guidance using the United States system — addresses, money services, visit booking, what to bring on your first visit.
Ten-jail complex on a 413-acre island in the East River. NYC's main jail; subject to federal monitoring since 2015 and a court-ordered closure plan with a target date of 2027.
Capacity
15,000
Current population
6,300
Occupancy
42%
Year opened
1932
Closed 2005
Figures from official sources · verified 20 May 2026 · methodology
Facility profile
Operator
NYC Department of CorrectionPopulation held
mixed
Opened
1932
Region
New York
Security level
Mixed
Death-row facility
No
Conditions
Aging complex of 10 jails on a single island. Documented violence, slashings, and staff shortages. NYC has committed to closing Rikers by 2027.
Visiting
Twice-weekly visits, scheduled online via DOC visitor portal. Government ID required. Wait times of 4+ hours common.
Mailing
Inmate Name, NYSID #, Housing Area, 11-11 Hazen Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. No polaroids or stickers.
Practical info
Money via JPay or MoneyGram. Bond/bail processing at Manhattan Criminal Court window.
Known issues
Federal monitor since 2015 (Nuñez consent decree). 19 deaths in custody during 2022. US Attorney has sought receivership.
Notable inmates
Sandra Bland's brother (Geneva Reed-Veal litigation); Tupac Shakur (1995); Sid Vicious (1979).
Contact & address
Conditions Risk Score
Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated
- Overcrowding
- 0/30
- Oversight reports
- 24/30
- Structural flags
- 5/15
- Death signals
- 5/15
- Conditions text
- 6/10
What the score is responding to:
- · 2 oversight reports in the last 5 years
- · Substantial documented known-issues record
- · In-custody-death signal in sources
- · Severe-conditions keyword in sources
This facility scores 40. The national average across 7,437 scored United States facilities is 2 — 38 points above national average.
Trend over time
Population and occupancy by year. Source: official corrections statistics + oversight reports.
Population held
Occupancy %
Related facilities
Same country, matched on type + security level where possible.
- Newport News City JailNewport NewsMaximumLocal jail158% occupancy
- Fort Peck Tribes JailPoplarLocal jail150% occupancy
- Virginia Beach Correctional CenterVirginia BeachMaximumLocal jail173% occupancy
- Long Beach City JailLong BeachMinimumLocal jail115% occupancy
- Joplin City JailJoplinLocal jail103% occupancy
- Chula Vista JailChula VistaLocal jail108% occupancy
Compared to other facilities in United States
7436 peersHigher risk than 100% of peer facilities in United States.
Reports
- Federal court (SDNY)27 Nov 2024
Judge Laura Taylor Swain ruled the DOC in contempt and ordered a remediation manager — a step short of receivership but unprecedented in scope.
- Nuñez federal monitor30 Nov 2022
Federal monitor's 13th report finds 'staggering' levels of violence and staffing failures; recommends federal receivership of NYC DOC.
Data completeness
100%How many of our profile fields are populated. We surface this so families and researchers know the limits.
Sources
- NYC Department of Correction
- Nuñez federal monitor reports
- NYC Department of Correction — City of New York
- See /data-sources for our overall methodology.
Cite this page
Under CC-BY-4.0. Include the URL and access date; the site is a living reference and entries can change.
World Prisons. (2026). Rikers Island. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://worldprisons.com/prisons/rikers-island
"Rikers Island." World Prisons. Accessed October 28, 2026. https://worldprisons.com/prisons/rikers-island.
@misc{worldprisons-rikers-island,
author = {{World Prisons}},
title = {Rikers Island},
year = {2026},
url = {https://worldprisons.com/prisons/rikers-island},
urldate = {2026-10-28}
}