Urgent: Holiday Packages to Rikers Face Delays, Advocates Warn

UPDATE: Families rushing to send holiday packages to loved ones on Rikers Island may face significant setbacks, as advocates warn that many packages could be delayed or lost entirely. With the holiday season approaching, public defenders report troubling inefficiencies within the jail’s mail system, impacting those looking to send essential items like winter clothes and books.

Currently, advocates state that 30% of packages sent to Rikers never reach their intended recipients. This alarming trend is particularly concerning as temperatures drop during the coldest months of the year. “With the holidays coming up, this is always a concern,” said Rebecca Kinsella, social work director at Brooklyn Defender Services. Families are left in the dark, spending money on items that may never arrive, while their loved ones go without basic necessities.

The Department of Correction handles between 2,100 and 2,800 packages a month, but according to correction records, about 25% contain items deemed “non-permissible.” Many of these items, such as colored pencils or winter clothing, are rejected for unclear reasons and not returned to senders. Advocates argue that the lack of transparency exacerbates the situation, with Natalie Fiorenzo from New York County Defender Services estimating that around 30% of the packages her organization sends never make it to clients.

A troubling example highlights these issues: during a recent testimony, Fiorenzo recounted her struggle to send a pair of sweatpants to a client at the Rose M. Singer Center. After multiple failed attempts, she finally succeeded after 90 days of waiting. “I can only imagine how frustrating and costly this is for families,” she stated. The bureaucratic failures not only waste money but also deny individuals essential items during harsh weather conditions.

In a statement, Patrick Rocchio, spokesperson for the Department of Correction, acknowledged the challenges of balancing security with the needs of individuals in custody. He emphasized that some packages may pose risks to safety, but advocates argue that many allowable items are still being rejected without justification.

The confusion deepens with the department’s publicly available policies. The list of “permissible items” has not been updated to reflect changes made over the past years. For instance, updates regarding chest binders for gender nonconforming prisoners are not visible on the current list. This discrepancy leaves families and advocates struggling to navigate the rules, further complicating the package delivery process.

The emotional toll on families is profound. Aubree Aguinaga from Bronx Defenders testified that her organization has spent thousands on items that never reach clients. “These are essential items meant to meet their needs during freezing cold months when the housing areas are not properly heated,” she explained.

As the holiday season draws near, the urgency surrounding these issues escalates. Families are left in uncertainty, facing financial losses and the emotional weight of knowing their loved ones may not receive the support they desperately need.

With the situation at Rikers Island continuing to develop, advocates are calling for immediate reforms and clearer communication from the Department of Correction. Families hoping to send packages to their loved ones this season must be aware of these potential pitfalls, as the clock ticks down to the holidays.