Rikers Island

American

[rahy-kerz] / ˈraɪ kərz /

an island off N Queens but administratively in the Bronx, New York City, in the East River: site of New York City penal facilities. 0.6 sq. mi. (1.6 sq. km).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Mamdani wants to continue former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to close the jail on Rikers Island, which would reduce the number of perpetrators New York can hold at a time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

It was staffed by corrections officers from other state prisons, as well as some correctional officers on loan from Rikers Island, in New York City.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2025

After the meeting he said he would allow federal immigration authorities to re-establish an office at the city's Rikers Island jail.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025

He is now serving a second jail sentence, in Rikers Island, for committing perjury in Trump’s civil fraud trial.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2024

Inmates awaiting trial or those serving shorter terms stay in local jails, such as New York City’s giant Rikers Island complex, near La Guardia Airport.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023