Cells measuring six by eight feet, constructed with cinderblock walls painted in institutional shades of gray – this could be Donald Trump’s new home after becoming the first US president to be convicted of a crime.
He may be returning to the campaign trail today, hours after being found guilty of all 34 counts of trying to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The Republican has been free on bail throughout the trial. He will return to court on July 11 – the date Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled for sentencing.
This sentence could involve a fine, probation or even prison time – and New York City’s Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, said that Rikers Island is ‘ready’ for Trump if he ends up being incarcerated.
The prospect of a former US president being held at Rikers – New York’s notorious jail complex – is both distressing and unprecedented.
Famous for the violence and overcrowding, it is in a stark contrast to the opulent lifestyle he has long maintained – and only underscores Trump’s dramatic fall from grace.
The facility, located on an island in the East River, is where some of New York’s most hardened criminals are locked up.
Its reputation for brutality and neglect has been the subject of multiple calls for reform over the years.
The New York City Council voted for its closure in 2019, aiming to replace it with four smaller, more humane jails.
The deadline for Riker to stop operating was given as August 2027, but officials have already admitted this may not be realistic.
A typical cell at the prison – like many in the US – is unwelcoming and at the very best, sparsely furnished. Natural light is also minimal.
There is a small combination toilet and sink unit, which offers no privacy and is positioned openly within the confined space.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, some dire pictures emerged from inside the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island.
Up to 26 men were squeezed into temporary holding cells, having to using plastic sheets as blankets, cardboard for beds, and plastic bags as makeshift toilets.
But prison time is considered unlikely for Trump, and he is expected to quickly appeal the jury’s verdict,
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