Rikers Island
New York City, New York, United States
Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, consisting of ten jail facilities on a 413-acre island in the East River. It is one of the largest correctional institutions in the world.
Establishment image
No photograph in this directory
This profile lists factual fields from the current import only. We do not show generic or illustrative photos as stand-ins for named establishments.
Coordinates on file
40.7931, -73.8860
At a glance
- Security / category
- Multi
- Operator
- New York City Department of Correction
- Capacity
- 10,000
- Opened
- 1932
- Type (listing)
- Male / Female / Juvenile
What type of prison is Rikers Island?
This is a Multi Male / Female / Juvenile establishment.
Overview
Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, consisting of ten jail facilities on a 413-acre island in the East River. It is one of the largest correctional institutions in the world.
History
Named after Abraham Rycken, the island has served as a jail complex since 1932. In 2019, the New York City Council voted to close the complex by 2026 and replace it with smaller, borough-based facilities.
Prison Life
Rikers houses mainly pretrial detainees and those serving short sentences. The complex has faced significant criticism regarding violence, neglect, and conditions. Reform efforts have been ongoing.
How to visit Rikers Island
Visitors can visit seven days a week. Walk-in visits are available but booking is recommended. Visit arrangements vary by facility, so always confirm directly before booking.
Planning a prison visit to Rikers Island
Most jurisdictions require you to book visits through an official channel, and slots can fill quickly. Read the establishment’s published visitor rules well ahead of time—ID, dress codes, and what you may bring are not standardised across sites. Expect real differences between prisons: what applies at one location may not apply at another, even within the same country.
For a step-by-step overview, read how prison visits work — then confirm every rule with the operator for this establishment.
Contact details for Rikers Island
Postal address and telephone lines for this profile were not included in the dataset used for this build. Use the official establishment or government prison finder for up-to-date contact details.
Where is Rikers Island located?
Rikers Island is based in New York City, in the New York area of United States. Coordinates: 40.7931, -73.8860.
Prison visiting guides
Related articles
Other prisons in New York
Related prisons
Other establishments in the same region, operator, or security category where the dataset supports it, then other sites in the same country.
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
41.1545, -73.8685
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Capacity: 1,700
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
38.3586, -105.0977
ADX Florence
Capacity: 490
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
37.8267, -122.4233
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Capacity: 336
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
33.7375, -118.2714
FCI Terminal Island
Capacity: 1,030
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
38.6757, -121.1778
Folsom State Prison
Capacity: 2,469
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
30.9559, -91.5571
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Capacity: 6,300
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
37.9396, -122.4862
San Quentin State Prison
Capacity: 3,082
No photograph in this directory
No facility photo on file; we do not use generic stand-ins for named sites.
Coordinates on file
39.3112, -94.9203
USP Leavenworth
Capacity: 1,170