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Five Mualimmak is a powerful and tireless advocate for criminal justice reform, whose personal experiences with incarceration, including time on Rikers Island and years in solitary confinement, have shaped his relentless activism.
Five Mualimmak is a survivor of extended periods in solitary confinement, having endured over five years in isolation across various New York correctional facilities, including Rikers. His personal accounts vividly describe the devastating psychological impact of such extreme isolation, where he experienced paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and a profound sense of dehumanization.

His activism is deeply rooted in ending these practices. The *Extreme Supervised Housing Unit (ESHU)* was a particularly harsh form of solitary confinement used at Rikers Island, known for its severe conditions. Mualimmak and other advocates campaigned vigorously against such units, highlighting their detrimental effects on mental health and human rights.

A major victory in this fight was the passage of the *Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act* in New York State, signed into law in March 2021 and fully implemented in March 2022. While Mualimmak wasn't the sole architect, his lived experience and consistent advocacy played a significant role in building the momentum and public awareness necessary for its passage. The HALT Act aims to:
*Limit the duration of solitary confinement:* It restricts the time an individual can spend in segregated confinement to 15 consecutive days or 20 days within a 60-day period. This is a crucial step towards aligning New York with international human rights standards, such as the UN's "Nelson Mandela Rules," which state that solitary confinement beyond 15 days can constitute torture.
*Prohibit solitary for vulnerable populations:* It specifically bans solitary confinement for individuals with mental illness, physical disabilities, pregnant people, and those under 21 or over 55.
*Establish alternative rehabilitative units:* It mandates the creation of Residential Rehabilitation Units (RRUs) that offer therapeutic programs and services as alternatives to traditional solitary confinement.
*Improve conditions of confinement:* It also sets standards for improved conditions in segregated units.

While the implementation of the HALT Act has faced challenges and ongoing scrutiny regarding compliance, it represents a landmark legislative achievement that Mualimmak and other activists fought hard for.
Five Mualimmak is a key figure in the broader movement to **close Rikers Island**. He works closely with organizations like the **Jails Action Coalition**, a collective of justice-impacted individuals, advocates, and community groups dedicated to decarceration and transforming the criminal justice system in New York City.

The campaign to close Rikers Island is driven by the consensus that the facility is an outdated, inhumane, and inherently violent institution. Mualimmak's advocacy for closure is rooted in the belief that the island embodies systemic failures, fosters abuse, and hinders rehabilitation. He argues that its physical isolation and brutal culture make it irredeemable.

The Jails Action Coalition and similar groups have campaigned for:

*Decarceration:* Reducing the number of people held in NYC jails, particularly those awaiting trial who cannot afford bail.
*Investing in community-based alternatives:* Shifting resources from incarceration to social services, mental health support, housing, and other community programs that address the root causes of crime.
Mualimmak emphasizes the need to transform a system of punishment into one that heals individuals and communities, advocating for a future where Rikers Island is repurposed for beneficial community use, such as renewable energy.

*"Rikers: An American Jail" (2016) with Bill Moyers*

Five Mualimmak is a central voice in the powerful documentary *"Rikers: An American Jail,"* co-produced by Bill Moyers. While the film is presented by Bill Moyers, Mualimmak is one of the formerly incarcerated individuals whose direct, unflinching testimony forms the core of the documentary.
The documentary features interviews with over a dozen former detainees of Rikers Island, who share their harrowing experiences of violence, abuse, extortion, the psychological toll of solitary confinement, and the pervasive dehumanization within the facility. Mualimmak's testimony, like others in the film, offers a rare and critical look into the inner workings of Rikers, exposing the systemic cruelty that is often hidden from public view.

Mualimmak's participation in "Rikers: An American Jail" exemplifies his commitment to using his voice and experience to educate the public and drive change in a system he knows intimately.