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Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, notorious for its history of violence, neglect, and human rights abuses. Five Mualimm-ak is a formerly incarcerated activist who uses his experience in solitary confinement to advocate for criminal justice reform. The Jails Action Coalition (JAC) is a grassroots alliance, of which Mualimm-ak has been a part, that works to promote dignity and safety for people in NYC jails.
Rikers Island
A sprawling complex of correctional facilities, Rikers Island is situated on an island in the East River between the Bronx and Queens. Its history is defined by documented constitutional rights violations against inmates, a "culture of abuse," and a pervasive environment of violence.
Location and size: The 413-acre island, named after a Dutch family, was purchased by New York City in 1884. Much of the island was created with landfill.
Violence and neglect: In 2014, a federal investigation found a "pattern and practice" of unconstitutional abuse against adolescent inmates. The Department of Justice cited the rampant use of excessive force by officers and insufficient protection from violence by other inmates.
The Kalief Browder case: The tragic case of Kalief Browder, who spent three years on Rikers—much of it in solitary—for a crime he didn't commit, drew national attention to the jail's abuses. He committed suicide two years after his release.
Move to close Rikers: The NYC Council voted in 2019 to close the main Rikers complex by 2026 and replace it with smaller, borough-based jails. However, the plan has faced delays. In 2025, a federal judge ordered that the jail be overseen by a court-appointed receiver due to the city's inability to remedy long-standing issues.
Five Mualimm-ak
An activist, artist, and advocate, Five Mualimm-ak uses his background in the New York City jail system to fight for criminal justice reform, especially against the use of solitary confinement.
Incarceration experience: Mualimm-ak was wrongly incarcerated on drug charges, spending 12 years in various facilities, including more than five years in solitary confinement. His convictions were eventually overturned.
Mental health advocacy: Having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Mualimm-ak is a strong advocate for improving mental healthcare in correctional facilities. He points out the lack of therapeutic environments in prisons, which can be especially triggering for people with mental illnesses.
Activism: He is the founder of the Incarcerated Nation Network, an advocacy group composed of formerly incarcerated people. He has worked with organizations like the ACLU to push for solitary confinement reform, and his story helped influence an executive order banning solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons.
Jails Action Coalition (JAC)
The Jails Action Coalition (JAC) is a grassroots alliance working for human rights and safer conditions within New York City jails.
Alliance: JAC brings together a range of activists, including formerly and currently incarcerated people, family members, and community members.
Advocacy: The group has led campaigns focused on ending solitary confinement and addressing conditions for vulnerable populations, including those with mental health issues and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Key campaigns: JAC was part of the Campaign to Shut Down Rikers. The organization also successfully campaigned to eliminate solitary confinement for 16- to 21-year-olds in NYC jails and continues to advocate for a full ban on the practice.
Connection to Mualimm-ak: As a prominent voice in the prison reform movement, Mualimm-ak has been a founding member of the Jails Action Coalition