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Kalief Browder, Jailed At Rikers For Three Years Without Conviction, Dies Of An Apparent Suicide
Browder described his teenage years at Rikers, which included two years of solitary confinement, as torture. He was released in June 2013 after a robbery charge was dropped.
A 22-year-old man who spent three tortuous years behind bars without being convicted of a crime killed himself on Saturday, the New Yorker reported.
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The New Yorker told the story of Kalief Browder last year, and this weekend, writer Jennifer Gonnerman sat with his family in their anger and grief.
His death came after years of beatings, withheld meals, and other abuse at Rikers Island, where he had been held for a crime he said he didn’t commit. He was arrested at age 16 after a man claimed Browder had robbed him; authorities dropped charges after three years and before the case went to trial. Surveillance video later obtained by the New Yorker showed two instances of the abuse Browder faced while in custody from corrections workers and other inmates. In spite of the conditions he faced, Browder said on multiple occasions he refused to take a plea deal because he was innocent.
Browder’s story prompted a closer look at problems at Rikers; it turned out he was one of many people caught in the backlog of the jail and the state court system.
A 22-year-old man who spent three tortuous years behind bars without being convicted of a crime killed himself on Saturday, the New Yorker reported.
[center]
[/center]
The New Yorker told the story of Kalief Browder last year, and this weekend, writer Jennifer Gonnerman sat with his family in their anger and grief.
His death came after years of beatings, withheld meals, and other abuse at Rikers Island, where he had been held for a crime he said he didn’t commit. He was arrested at age 16 after a man claimed Browder had robbed him; authorities dropped charges after three years and before the case went to trial. Surveillance video later obtained by the New Yorker showed two instances of the abuse Browder faced while in custody from corrections workers and other inmates. In spite of the conditions he faced, Browder said on multiple occasions he refused to take a plea deal because he was innocent.
Browder’s story prompted a closer look at problems at Rikers; it turned out he was one of many people caught in the backlog of the jail and the state court system.
Source: Buzzfeed
Source: New Yorker
24 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
But it matters to us.
Rest in peace, Kalief, a peace you did not find in this world.
he had to have been so traumatized by his experiences.
I'm heartsick.
and headed for good things when they took him. They took this young man's life. They owed him support after his ordeal. This is so sad.
