Inmates rescue female officer at correctional facility
Riker’s Island, New York City’s central jail complex and the second-largest prison facility in the United States, has been the subject of recent focus, following the attempted sexual assault of a female prison guard. On the evening of Feb. 28, the prison – which is notorious for inmate abuse, with over 100 reported cases of abuse by staff in 2013 – saw a surprising turn of events.
27 year-old Raleek Young, a prisoner at the facility, was able to get inside the watch-post of the Anna M. Kross Center at the prison, alone with a female officer. Young then choked the officer, according to authorities, dragging her into an adjoining bathroom and pulling down his pants.
Riker’s Island prisoners prevented the rape of a female prison guard.
From outside the watch-post, a group of inmates caught a partial view of Young assaulting the female officer. Young was able to get inside the watch-post by asserting his need to pass through to get a mattress from another unit. When the group of inmates witnessed the unsettling altercation, they immediately came to the aid of the guard.
Several prisoners proceeded to tear back the plastic protective glass, leaving enough room for a “skinny” inmate to sneak inside and open the security door. After making their way into the watch post, the group fought to remove Young – who weighs nearly 300 lbs – from atop the female prison guard.
Young had been previously convicted for raping a 13-year-old girl and was sentenced to serve up to 10 years.
The New York City Corrections Department confirmed, shortly following the assault that “the inmate was arrested” and “the matter is under investigation.” At his arraignment, Young faced charges of attempted rape, sexual abuse, forcible touching, assault, and harassment.
Norman Seabrook, the guards’ union president, paid tribute to the intervention of the prisoners.
“That could have been their mother, wife, or sister,” Seabrook said. Seabrook also added that 90 per cent of the time, inmates are just “there to do their time and go home.”
An event such as this raises concerns about the security standards in prison facilities like Riker’s Island. With an annual budget of nearly $1 billion, why is security on the grounds so lax? How are members of prison staff getting away with over 100 cases of inmate abuse a year, some resulting in the death of non violent convicts.
Though the welfare of convicted criminals and prison facility standards may not be the main concern of the majority, it has become a serious issue at Riker’s Island. In the end, it comes down to the safety of each person who steps foot in the facility, and without improving conditions for inmates and staff, no one’s safety is guaranteed.