Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Sheriff's Office/ Instagram.
According to the New York Daily News, inmates at Rikers Island were forced to run the prison after the guards failed to show up for their shifts on Aug 31.
Because of a staff shortage, the prison was left without guards in units 3 North and 3 West in the Otis Bantum Correctional Center. Terrance Ferguson, a hip-hop artist, known as 2 Milly, said that he’d been answering the prison’s telephones since 6:00 a.m.
“We are really running the dorm by ourselves. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson said that there were no guards on his floor on Rikers Island from at least 6 a.m. on Aug 31 until noon on Sept. 1.
“I’ve been answering the phones,” he added.
Department of Corrections declined to comment on whether Rikers was left unguarded, but they did concede that Rikers had a staff shortage. In July, at least 2,300 corrections officers called in.
“These gaps are a regular occurrence and it’s a prime reason why officers are being attacked and inmates aren’t getting the services they need,” an unnamed source told the NY Daily News. “You can’t expect the population to double with fewer people to provide those services, and this not happen.”
While the Department of Corrections had no comment, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is looking for more corrections officers. They announced on Instagram on Sept. 2 that they were hiring correction officers.
“Are you interested in a new or change of career? Join the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office as a Correction Officer. The Civil Service exam for this position will be given on 11/13/21 and the last day to register is 9/29/21.”
Ferguson said that he and other inmates were still running the two units as of the afternoon of Sept. 1 because no staff had shown up yet.
“We’re still here right now, still answering the phone, still sending guys to court, sending to video court,” he said.