Q&A
Concerns about inmates not claiming small amounts and accumulation of funds
0:57:09
ยท
114 sec
Council Member Diana I. Ayala expresses concerns about inmates not claiming small amounts of commissary funds and the accumulation of unclaimed money over time.
- Ayala suggests that inmates might not stop to claim small amounts like $5 when leaving Rikers.
- She points out that these small amounts accumulate over time, creating an ongoing issue for DOC.
- Ayala questions the effectiveness of relying on the DOC website for inmates to claim funds.
- DOC representatives acknowledge the concern and express willingness to explore solutions.
Diana I. Ayala
0:57:09
Yeah.
0:57:09
I mean, I just assume that if you if I have $5 and I'm, you know, I've I've spent 8 months, 2 years, whatever it is at Rikers, then I'm I'm gonna leave as fast as possible.
0:57:18
I might not think that $5 is enough to stop by the commissary, you know, window.
0:57:23
So, you know, I but it also doesn't doesn't benefit you to continue to accumulate, you know, funds that are being held in perpetuity.
0:57:35
So what is you know, I'm trying to figure out what what measures you've taken to try to remediate this.
0:57:41
Right?
0:57:41
Maybe having that money available so that when we're giving I'm assuming if I I'm an inmate, and I have never been in, you know, in Rikers, but so I'm a play a little bit here.
0:57:51
But, and imagine what it would look like.
0:57:53
You know, now I'm I'm leaving, and I have to get my clothes that I came in with or whatever I'm gonna wear.
0:58:00
I'm gonna grab my documents and the things that I you know, my belongings that I wish to take with me, and then I have to pass a certain area.
0:58:08
So why wouldn't I I think it would make sense to have those funds readily available.
0:58:14
Here's your stuff.
0:58:15
Have a good day.
0:58:16
I don't I wouldn't stop for $5.
0:58:18
But again, you know, it might not it might not mean it's not gonna this is not life changing money.
0:58:24
But the problem is that it continues to add up, and we have nowhere to we we have no way of communicating with folks.
0:58:32
And I I don't I don't see anybody going on the website, quite frankly.
0:58:35
Unless I left a lot of money there, there's no reason why I'm gonna go in
Sandy Nurse
0:58:38
there.
0:58:38
Mhmm.
James Conroy
0:58:39
I mean, a couple of things to that.
0:58:41
1, we share the concern.
0:58:42
I mean, we really do.
0:58:43
We don't use this money.
0:58:45
We don't want this money.
0:58:46
We're just concerned about, you know, the bill and the issues of having this cash on-site, but that doesn't solve the issue you just raised.
0:58:52
Right?
0:58:53
So even if we have all this money, which which is presents a danger to anyone, you know, again, if they do stop and you hand them $50,000 they have to have, you know, that in the account.
0:59:02
That's a dangerous situation.