Kalief Browder Way (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:At the northwest corner of East 181st Street and Prospect Avenue
Honoree: Kalief Browder (1993-2015) spent three years at Rikers Island after being accused of stealing a backpack. He never stood trial or was found guilty of any crime and spent two of the three years in solitary confinement. While he was in jail, he tried to commit suicide several times and was repeatedly beaten by correction officers and inmates, all while refusing several plea bargains and maintaining his innocence. Ultimately, prosecutors dropped the charges. However Mr. Browder was unable to rid himself of the damage that was done while imprisoned. His mental health deteriorated and he committed suicide at 22 years of age. As a result of his death, Mayor de Blasio announced an effort to clear backlogs in state courts, reduce the inmate population at Rikers and do away with solitary confinement for 16 and 17 year-olds. (Torres)
LL:2017/45