Rikers Island reports first detainee death of 2025

Ramel Powell, a 38-year-old inmate at Rikers Island, was found dead early Wednesday morning, marking the first detainee death of 2025. Powell had been in custody since July 2023 while awaiting trial for allegedly slashing a stranger with a boxcutter. The cause of his death remains unknown, and the NYC Department of Correction has initiated a full investigation, notifying various oversight bodies as part of standard protocol. Powell's death adds to the troubling statistics surrounding Rikers, where around 100 individuals have died in custody over the past decade, including 34 under Mayor Eric Adams' administration. Advocates have criticized the mayor, holding him responsible for the deteriorating conditions within the jail system. The city's plans to close Rikers by 2027 remain uncertain amid ongoing community opposition and legal challenges regarding jail conditions.