Rikers Island jail gets kid-friendly visitor's room for incarcerated women ahead of Mother's Day

(11 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York - 7 May 2024
1. Three year old Queen Jones plays with new installation at Rikers Island visitation hub
2. Nadine Leach, 43, right, imprisoned on an A1 felony drug charge, is visited by her daughter Lashawna Jones, 27, and grandchildren Princess, one year old, and Queen, three years old
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lashawna Jones, Daughter of Rikers Island Inmate:
“It looks nice for the kids. So when they come and visit their family, they can go in and play, color."
4. Exterior of Rikers Island jail complex
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction:
“Being incarcerated can be very difficult. It can be difficult on the children. It can be difficult on the moms. And it's important for them to have those connections even while they're in our care, so that when they when they are released, they know that, you know, they have that bond."
6. Corrections officers and playroom
7. Child in play and learn room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Leslie Bushara, Children’s Museum of Manhattan:
“Communication, sharing, literacy. This environment helps the incarcerated mother and the child develop those skills together.”
9. Jones and toddler daughter Princess
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lashawna Jones, Daughter of Rikers Island Inmate:
"I feel like a little sad coming here to visit her here because I'm used to having her physically home with us. // Mother’s Day means a lot to me because I’m a mother, not only that, she’s a mom. She taught me how to be a mom."
11. Various exteriors of Rikers Island
STORYLINE:
VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

(Nats of kids playing)

By the looks of it, this preschool playroom could be anywhere.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lashawna Jones, Daughter of Rikers Island Inmate
“It looks nice for the kids. So when they come and visit their family, they can go in and play, color."

On Tuesday, Lashawna Jones brought her daughters to visit with their grandmother...

SOUNDBITE (English) Nadine Leach, Rikers Island Inmate
"This is Princess the baby. Excuse me. And this is Queen.”

...in New York City's Rikers Island jail complex.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction
“Being incarcerated can be very difficult. It can be difficult on the children. It can be difficult on the moms. And it's important for them to have those connections even while they're in our care, so that when they when they are released, they know that, you know, they have that bond."

The facility was designed and installed by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

SOUNDBITE (English) Leslie Bushara, Children’s Museum of Manhattan
“Communication, sharing, literacy. This environment helps the incarcerated mother and the child develop those skills together.”

Just in time for Mother's Day.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lashawna Jones, Daughter of Rikers Island Inmate
"I feel like a little sad coming here to visit her here because I'm used to having her physically home with us. // Mother’s Day means a lot to me because I’m a mother, not only that, she’s a mom. She taught me how to be a mom."


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