Hunter speaks with two New York Criminal Defense Attorneys, Richard Willstatter and Stan Germán, to discuss the crisis at Rikers Island. For more than a decade, there has been a class action lawsuit against the city because of the inhumane conditions in the jails. Sadly, the calls for closure, reform, or receivership have continuously fallen on deaf ears. As a result, the death toll in Riker’s is reaching record highs. While there may be good news coming in the near term as people with power finally decide to act, it cannot be forgotten that with every passing day, the lives of every person in the jail are at risk.
Guests:
Richard Willstatter, Partner, Law Offices of Green and Willstatter
Stan Germán, Executive Director, New York County Defender Services
Resources:
NY Times Death Tracker at Rikers:
https://www.nytimes.com/article/rikers-deaths-jail.html
Federal Prosecutor Urges Takeover of Rikers Island:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/nyregion/rikers-island-federal-takeover.html
NYCDS:
https://nycds.org/
Timeline of Events at Rikers:
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/07/timeline-closure-rikers-island/376662/
