Rikers Island's Rigid Oversight Exposed as Guard's Suspension Sparks Questions Over Jail Conditions.
A recent report by the city Board of Correction has revealed a disturbing pattern of negligence among correctional officers, with one guard facing suspension after a detainee died in custody. Aramis Furse, 32, was found unresponsive in his cell on Rikers Island on December 7 and later pronounced dead at a Queens hospital.
The watchdog report highlights the officer's failure to conduct regular tours of their assigned area, leaving them vulnerable to contraband exchange with other detainees. The investigation also showed that the guard left their post multiple times without permission, allowing detainees to move freely between cells while cell windows and cameras were obstructed.
Despite receiving a 30-day suspension, many within Furse's family question whether this is sufficient given the circumstances of his death. "I no longer have my brother for the rest of the time that I'm alive," said Anjulie Furse, her sister and Aramis' younger sibling. "Not that there's a way to measure somebody's lifespan or what they mean to you and put it into years, but come on, a 30-day suspension?"
This incident is not an isolated one; the federal monitor overseeing Rikers under a 2015 consent decree reported 28 department staff were disciplined from January 2022 to June 2025 for failing to conduct proper tours in cases where someone died in custody. "Given the frequency with which touring deficiencies occur, and the frequency with which serious incidents occur from staff's failure to conduct proper tours, a larger number of corrective actions would be expected," the filing stated.
As Rikers Island faces increased scrutiny, officials are working to improve conditions at the jails. However, many experts argue that the city's current population surge – with over 7,000 people in custody, the highest level since 2019 – makes it virtually impossible to meet the legal deadline to close Rikers and replace it with four borough-based jails by September 2027.
In a statement, the nonprofit Legal Aid Society said Aramis Furse's death "serves as yet another stark example of how dangerous conditions are inside Rikers Island and how ill-equipped DOC is to handle this crisis." As the family waits for answers about their son's cause of death, they continue to push for greater oversight and accountability within the Department of Correction.
A recent report by the city Board of Correction has revealed a disturbing pattern of negligence among correctional officers, with one guard facing suspension after a detainee died in custody. Aramis Furse, 32, was found unresponsive in his cell on Rikers Island on December 7 and later pronounced dead at a Queens hospital.
The watchdog report highlights the officer's failure to conduct regular tours of their assigned area, leaving them vulnerable to contraband exchange with other detainees. The investigation also showed that the guard left their post multiple times without permission, allowing detainees to move freely between cells while cell windows and cameras were obstructed.
Despite receiving a 30-day suspension, many within Furse's family question whether this is sufficient given the circumstances of his death. "I no longer have my brother for the rest of the time that I'm alive," said Anjulie Furse, her sister and Aramis' younger sibling. "Not that there's a way to measure somebody's lifespan or what they mean to you and put it into years, but come on, a 30-day suspension?"
This incident is not an isolated one; the federal monitor overseeing Rikers under a 2015 consent decree reported 28 department staff were disciplined from January 2022 to June 2025 for failing to conduct proper tours in cases where someone died in custody. "Given the frequency with which touring deficiencies occur, and the frequency with which serious incidents occur from staff's failure to conduct proper tours, a larger number of corrective actions would be expected," the filing stated.
As Rikers Island faces increased scrutiny, officials are working to improve conditions at the jails. However, many experts argue that the city's current population surge – with over 7,000 people in custody, the highest level since 2019 – makes it virtually impossible to meet the legal deadline to close Rikers and replace it with four borough-based jails by September 2027.
In a statement, the nonprofit Legal Aid Society said Aramis Furse's death "serves as yet another stark example of how dangerous conditions are inside Rikers Island and how ill-equipped DOC is to handle this crisis." As the family waits for answers about their son's cause of death, they continue to push for greater oversight and accountability within the Department of Correction.
rikers island has been a black eye on our city's reputation for ages but it's not just about the place itself, it's about how we treat each other 
aramis furse's death is a harsh reminder that even one person can have their life torn apart by systemic failures. what's 30 days in suspension when you've lost your brother forever? 
it's easy to say we need reform but the question is, are we willing to do the work to make real changes? 
for those of us who aren't directly affected, it can be hard to grasp the weight of this issue, but maybe that's what makes it so important for us to keep talking about it, to try and understand why we need better 
. The fact that he was left unattended in his cell like it was no big deal is just unbelievable 
. And to think there are more incidents like this happening on a regular basis? It's like, how many times do we need to see someone die before we take action?! 
, my heart goes out to Aramis' sis Anjulie & his whole fam 
, all these staff being disciplined for ignoring tours & letting contraband in is just wild 
, Rikers Island is literally a nightmare 
, 7k people in custody right now? 
, we need more than just oversight, we need real change 
I'm so sad to hear about Aramis Furse's tragic passing 
. 30 days feels like nothing when you're grieving the loss of a loved one 
.
I mean, family is saying he'll never come back and thats heartbreaking 
. Its like they think a short suspension is gonna fix everything... Newsflash: its not 
. We need real change, not just empty promises from the city 
.
I'm not buying all the hype around "fixing" Rikers Island just yet. 30 days suspension for a guard who basically let a detainee die on his watch? That's like getting a slap on the wrist for putting someone in harm's way. 
i mean aramis furse died in custody & now his fam is demanding more than just a 30 day suspension from the guard who was supposed to be monitoring him 
it's like, how hard is it to do a simple tour of your cell? 
and we all know the results are dire 
it's been 7 yrs since they promised to replace it with 4 borough-based jails & still nothin's changed