Q&A
Addressing deaths at Rikers Island and the BOC's role in prevention
1:04:05
·
101 sec
Helen Skipper discusses the increasing number of deaths at Rikers Island and outlines the potential role of the Board of Corrections in preventing and overseeing these incidents.
- Skipper emphasizes the need to return to basics and redefine the concepts of care, custody, and control in the jail system.
- She highlights the importance of improved staff training and attentiveness to prevent needless deaths.
- Skipper draws on her personal experience as a suicide prevention aid to illustrate the need for more engaged and responsible staff.
- She calls for creating a more humane atmosphere in the jail facilities and addressing the lack of medical attention and care that has led to preventable deaths.
Keith Powers
1:04:05
Thanks.
1:04:05
I had one more question for you, which is we've seen increase of deaths at Red Cross Island over last few years.
1:04:14
Feels like we are now constantly opening up the newspaper or social media and finding out another death taking place.
1:04:21
Can you talk a little bit about what role the BOC might play in preventing and also doing oversight on deaths inside the city jail facilities?
Helen Skipper
1:04:30
I think we need to go back down to the basics.
1:04:33
We're looking at a at a semblance of care, custody, and control.
1:04:36
But what we really need to do is fully define what care custody and control really is.
1:04:42
That also reverts back to what I spoke to about before, about staff training in the 25 years that I did on an off record.
1:04:50
I was always so suicide prevention aid.
1:04:52
And I remember even back then that I was the one walking floor or more than the assigned CEO.
1:04:59
Things like this have to change.
1:05:02
These deaths that have occurred on Bright House Island for lack of attention, lack of medical attention, lack of care and concern, they need to stop.
1:05:13
Because we need to have a humane atmosphere, and we don't have that.
1:05:20
We have people dying needlessly.
1:05:22
Because someone just looked at them and said, I don't care about that.
1:05:25
That's not my job and walked the other way.
Keith Powers
1:05:30
Thank you.
1:05:32
I would ask other members to ask questions, but they were all departed on us.
1:05:36
So we'll let's add.
1:05:37
We'll thank you.
1:05:38
Congratulations on your nomination, and look forward to to seeing you on fight the BOC.
Helen Skipper
1:05:43
Thank you.
Keith Powers
1:05:43
Thank you.
Helen Skipper
1:05:44
Appreciate you.
1:05:44
Thank you for your time.
Keith Powers
1:05:45
Thank you.