New Yorks “Temporary” Floating Jail Finally Set For Closure
The so-called “floating jail” in New York City, originally intended as a temporary solution when it was established in the East River thirty years ago, is finally preparing to cease its operations.
The Vernon C. Bain Center, affectionately known as “the Boat,” is scheduled to close its doors in October, as confirmed by the Department of Correction to Gothamist on Tuesday.
Approximately 500 individuals in custody and 200 correction officers and staff currently stationed on the vessel will be relocated from the boat to facilities on Rikers Island and other locations, according to Patrick Rocchio, a spokesperson for the Department of Correction. This move is intended to enhance the Department’s efficiency in managing detainees, personnel, and resources through the “centralization” of operations on Rikers Island.
The 625-foot-long floating detention center was constructed in 1989 and commenced operations in 1992 as a stopgap measure to address the surging jail population at Rikers, driven by the “war on drugs.” However, the barge, situated off Hunts Point in the Bronx, has continued to function for over three decades.
Advocates for criminal justice reform have frequently called for the closure of this makeshift jail, especially in light of detainee fatalities that have occurred on the boat in recent years.
In September 2021, a 24-year-old individual named Stephan Khadu passed away at Lincoln Hospital after being transferred from the floating jail. His family attributed his deteriorating health to the conditions on the boat.
One year later, a 48-year-old detainee named Gregory Acevedo, held on a robbery charge, succumbed to his injuries after leaping from the barge into the East River.
Cynthia Acevedo, Gregory’s sister, expressed relief at the news of the floating jail’s impending closure but also emphasized the need for more city jail facilities to shut down. She advocated for detainees with mental health challenges to receive treatment and diversion from incarceration rather than being moved from “the Boat” to Rikers.
Edwin Santana, a criminal justice advocate affiliated with the Urban Justice Center’s Freedom Agenda, described the closure of the Vernon C. Bain Center as “bittersweet.” He welcomed the news of “the Boat’s” closure but expressed sadness about the plan to transfer individuals to Rikers, stating that no one should be detained or work at Rikers due to its history of violence.
Last year, the city’s jail system experienced its highest detainee death rate in a quarter-century, with 27 detainee deaths occurring since Mayor Eric Adams’ inauguration on January 1, 2022. Rikers Island has faced significant challenges related to escalating violence and limited access to medical care in previous years.
Rikers Island is slated to close by September 2027 as part of a 2019 City Council plan to relocate detainees to smaller jails constructed in the boroughs. However, Mayor Adams recently called on the Council to revisit the plan, citing the substantial costs associated with building the new jails, which were originally intended to accommodate 3,300 detainees. Since 2019, the jail population has surged to over 6,000.
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