Rikers Island Longitudinal Study
The Rikers Island Longitudinal Study (RILS) is a research study currently underway in New York City to examine the life experiences and needs of people recently involved in the criminal justice system. Survey respondents were recruited at arraignment or Rikers Island jail, if they were detained.
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic struck New York City in the middle of the RILS’ year-long data collection, and, as such, in-person interviews ceased and data collection continued through phone and email/messaging. With collaborator Emily Wang, Associate Professor at Yale School of Medicine and Director of the Health Justice Lab, RILS researchers conducted a module studying the effects of the pandemic on the daily life of respondents.
Papers:
Plummer, Samantha, Timothy Ittner, Angie Monreal, Jasmin Sandelson, and Bruce Western. 2023. “Life Curing COVID for Court-Involved People.” RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation of the Journal of Social Sciences 9: 232-251.
Survey Instruments: