The author presents the numerous issues, both ethical and logistical, surrounding the Riker's Island prison as the primary motivating factors behind the calls to reform or shut down the facility, both from government officials and the public. The author cites a variety of sources supporting these movements.
As part of the evidence in this article, the author cites Gerard R. and Hailey-Means who are two former inmates of Rikers' Island, Martin Horn who is a former NYC DOC commissioner, Mayor DeBlasio, John Boston of the Legal Aid Society, Kim Knowlton who is a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Susi Vassallo who is an associate professor of emergency medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, and a number of additional individuals and organizations.