New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement in response to the New York City Board of Corrections report on the death of Layleen Polanco at Rikers Island. The report can be found here.
"This report outlines necessary changes to move forward in how things are done, but it does not provide justice for what has already been done. Layleen Polanco deserved justice. She deserved respect. She deserved to live. All of that was taken from her. The Board's report shows negligence, abuse and blatant disregard for policy, but we need true accountability.
"I am glad that the Board of Correction recognizes that the system that killed Layleen Polanco, a system that could allow her to lose her life, alone, is one that needs to be transformed. I believe it needs to be upended. The Department of Corrections and Correctional Health Services should adopt these common sense recommendations, but that alone is not enough. It is past time that we abolish solitary confinement in New York City once and for all."
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