Death at Rikers: How NYC Judges Fueled the Swelling Jail Population
An analysis by New York Focus and Gothamist/WNYC reveals the judges who set bail most frequently, driving up the jail population as it entered crisis.
George Joseph and Akash Mehta · September 27, 2021

Luz Gualman holding a photo of her deceased husband Segundo Guallpa. | George Joseph
This article is part of a joint reporting project from New York Focus and Gothamist/WNYC.

Brandon Rodriguez, 25, died on August 10th in a cell at the intake facility on Rikers Island.
| Courtesy of attorney Williams Wagstaff III

Luz Gualman and her son Francisco Guallpa
| George Joseph

Luz Gualman holding a photo of her deceased husband Segundo Guallpa.
| George Joseph
George Joseph is a reporter with the WNYC/Gothamist Race & Justice Unit. You can send him tips on Facebook, Twitter @georgejoseph94, Instagram @georgejoseph81, and at gjosephwnyc@protonmail.com. His phone and encrypted Signal app number is 929−486−4865.

Akash Mehta co-founded New York Focus and is the organization’s editor-in-chief. He grew up in New York City, and in another life he was a member of his local community board and a policy fellow at the City Council.
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