Advocates and records reveal that an inmate at Rikers Island, who was suspected to have scarlet fever, passed away due to the jail staff’s continuous obstruction of medical treatment.
According to a letter from attorneys with The Legal Aid Society obtained by The Post, Charizma Jones, a 23-year-old inmate, passed away last week. She was rushed to a Queens hospital by EMS personnel more than two months ago from the notoriously problematic jail.
In a letter addressed to the Board of Correction on Monday, concerns were raised over whether the jail staff’s decision to leave Jones untreated for two days, despite her suffering from fever and rashes, led to her tragic demise. This question was also raised by MK Kaishian, who is representing Jones’ family.
Kashian, expressing concern over the death of Ms. Jones, stated that there are several unanswered questions surrounding the incident. He further added that his team is actively gathering information on behalf of her family. In support of Legal Aid Society, he has urged the Board of Correction to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
“The Department of Correction’s conduct in denying medical care to a seriously ill person is contemptuous and inhumane. Regardless of any further revelations, this fact is undeniable and inexcusable.”
According to records obtained by The Post, city Correctional Medical Services workers made multiple efforts to treat Jones while she was in the jail’s infirmary on May 5 and May 6. Jones was suffering from a rash that covered her body, along with a fever of 102 degrees, sore throat, chills, and vomiting.
According to a letter from Legal Aid, the medical workers were not allowed to enter Jones’ infirmary cell to check her vital signs, despite her needing medical attention. The reason given by DOC staff was that Jones was considered a security risk, as she had allegedly assaulted a correction officer.
According to medical records, there were multiple efforts to check the inmate’s vital signs. However, the officer on duty in the Department of Corrections declined to open the cell. The records also noted a spelling error in the abbreviation for “open.”
According to a letter from Legal Aid, Jones was administered antibiotics and a steroid as treatment for presumptive scarlet fever. However, when jail staff refused to allow medical workers to check her vital signs, Jones was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital on May 6 within an hour.
According to additional medical records obtained by The Post, her condition worsened beyond the initial suspicion of scarlet fever by medical personnel, and she was hospitalized for several months.
According to a source, medical professionals suspected that Jones was suffering from scarlet fever. However, the diagnosis has not been confirmed yet.
According to Mount Sinai, Scarlet fever is caused by a bacterial infection that leads to a distinctive rash resembling sandpaper, which spreads throughout the body. Jones displayed many of the symptoms associated with this disease. Although it was once a serious childhood illness, it can now be easily treated with antibiotics.
According to records, Jones had a history of liver failure and developed a rash that could have been an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, the antibiotic prescribed to her for potential scarlet fever.
According to records, it was noted on July 10th by a physician at New York-Presbyterian’s Weill Cornell burn center that Jones’ condition had deteriorated. The doctor observed that her skin condition had worsened and she was also experiencing multiple organ failure. Based on these observations, the doctor expressed doubt that Jones would be able to survive.
On July 14, she passed away.
According to the New York Daily News, Jones was from the Bronx and had been sentenced to one year in prison for assault. The Legal Aid letter and records were first to report this information.
The Post’s attempts to reach out to representatives from DOC and Correctional Medical Services for comment went unanswered.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the family of Jones upon learning about her passing. He shared that his heart goes out to them during this difficult time.
“It’s just terrible when you lose someone, irrespective of whether they are incarcerated or not,” he expressed.
He emphasized the need for a review in the case and stated that blocking someone’s medical care is unacceptable. “If there was someone responsible for blocking her medical care, it’s a matter that needs to be investigated. There’s no justification for denying someone medical attention,” he said. He also clarified that she did not pass away while in custody at Rikers Island.
