Mass Tort · Rikers Island Sexual Abuse
Were you sexually abused at Rikers Island?
More than 719 lawsuits have been filed against New York City, seeking a combined $14 billion for sexual abuse at Rikers Island. Under NYC's Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA), survivors — men, women, adults and teens — may still have a pathway to hold the City and DOC accountable, even after the Adult Survivors Act window closed.
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719+
Lawsuits filed
Rikers sexual abuse cases against NYC
$14B
Damages sought
From the City of New York
$4M
Recent settlement
Single detainee — November 2025
Active Litigation
Rikers Island sexual abuse litigation — where things stand.
Where the broader Rikers sexual abuse litigation stands today — in plain English.
NYC Civil Courts
Total Filings
719+
More than 719 sexual assault lawsuits have been filed against NYC over alleged Rikers abuse, collectively seeking $14 billion. Reporting by amNY found that more than half of all NYC sexual abuse suits under the Adult Survivors Act stem from Rikers.
Sources: CBS New York; amNY; Gothamist.
NYC Settlement
November 18, 2025
$4 Million
NYC paid $4 million to settle the case of a Rikers detainee whose five separate rape claims were ignored by jail officials over multiple stints in custody — even after he reported officers and pointed out specific incidents.
Source: THE CITY (11/18/2025).
Adult Survivors Act
Revival Window
Closed Nov 23, 2023
New York's Adult Survivors Act opened a one-year revival window for adult sexual assault claims (Nov 2022 – Nov 2023). That window drove the bulk of Rikers filings — but additional legal pathways may still be available depending on your facts.
Why Rikers cases are different
Custodial sexual abuse cases involve unique evidence — DOC records, PREA reports, surveillance, jail medical files — and require attorneys who know how to obtain it. Hundreds of plaintiffs are now coordinated against the same defendant, the City of New York, which can strengthen each individual claim.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different. Filing deadlines vary.
The Law · Gender-Motivated Violence Act
How NYC's GMVA applies to Rikers Island survivors.
Sexual abuse in NYC custody is gender-motivated violence. The GMVA gives Rikers survivors an additional civil pathway — separate from the Adult Survivors Act — to hold the City and DOC accountable.
01
A Direct Civil Remedy
New York City's Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) lets survivors of gender-motivated violence — including custodial sexual assault at Rikers Island — bring a civil claim against those responsible.
02
The City & DOC Held Accountable
GMVA claims may target the City of New York, the NYC Department of Correction, and NYC Health + Hospitals / CHS — not only the individual officer or staff member who committed the abuse.
03
An Extended Window to File
The GMVA provides its own filing window for gender-motivated violence in NYC, which may give Rikers survivors a pathway to file even after the Adult Survivors Act window closed on November 23, 2023.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different. Filing deadlines vary.
Eligibility
Who may qualify.
01
You were held at a Rikers facility
Including the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC), Otis Bantum Correctional Center (OBCC), Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC), George R. Vierno Center (GRVC), GMDC, RNDC (adolescent housing), or any other Rikers Island jail.
02
You were sexually abused by staff
By an officer, captain, civilian DOC employee, contractor, or medical provider — at any time during your incarceration. Both adult and adolescent survivors qualify.
03
Men and women both qualify
While much of the coverage has focused on RMSC, men incarcerated at Rikers have also brought major cases — including the recent $4M NYC settlement involving five ignored rape complaints.
Not sure if you qualify? A free, confidential review answers that question — at no cost and no commitment.
Conduct Covered
Conduct covered by these lawsuits.
- Rape or sexual assault by correctional officers
- Sexual assault during medical exams or intake
- Coerced sex in exchange for privileges or contraband
- Invasive or unjustified strip searches
- Sexual abuse of adolescents at RNDC / juvenile housing
- Retaliation or ignored PREA reports
Every survivor's experience is different. A free, confidential review is the right way to learn whether you may have a claim.
Facts at a Glance
Rikers Island litigation, at a glance.
| Facilities covered | RMSC, OBCC, AMKC, GRVC, GMDC, RNDC, and other Rikers jails |
|---|---|
| Operator | NYC Department of Correction (NYC DOC) |
| Primary defendant | City of New York |
| Lawsuits filed | 719+ |
| Total damages sought | ≈ $14 billion |
| Key statute (now closed) | NY Adult Survivors Act (Nov 22, 2022 – Nov 23, 2023) |
| Recent NYC settlement | $4M (Nov 2025) — five ignored rape claims |
| Common venues | Bronx, New York, and Queens Supreme Court; S.D.N.Y. |
Sources: CBS New York; amNY; THE CITY (11/18/2025); NBC News; Gothamist. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Defendants Commonly Named
City of New York
Per NYC DOC
NYC Department of Correction
Operates all Rikers facilities
NYC Health + Hospitals / CHS
Correctional medical staff
The Process
Three steps. Always confidential.
STEP 01
Confidential Review
Submit the intake form. An attorney reviews your information in strict confidence — no obligation, no fee.
STEP 02
We Investigate
Our team gathers DOC records, PREA reports, and medical files to build the evidence supporting your claim.
STEP 03
We Pursue Your Claim
We coordinate with the broader Rikers litigation against the City of New York. You pay nothing unless we win.
Common Questions