By Corrections1 Staff
NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Correction announced the opening of a new wellness center today at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island, aimed at improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of its staff.
This initiative is the first of its kind on the island, with plans to open additional facilities in other jails in the coming months, NYCDOC said in a news release.
NYC Department of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie emphasized the importance of the investment in staff wellness.
“Our staff are our greatest resource. Investing in them is investing in safe jails,” said Maginley-Liddie. “Having these resources available to them on-island will better support our staff’s physical and emotional health and ensure they have increased opportunities to receive valuable training. I am proud to have these resources to show our staff that — for all they do to protect the wellbeing of others — their health matters to us.”
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The wellness center includes a gym equipped with a full range of exercise equipment, such as elliptical machines, box jumps, kettle bells, resistance bands, jump ropes and weights for various body workouts. It also features televisions to enhance the workout experience. In addition to the gym, the center offers a business center with computers to assist officers, many of whom lack internet access during work hours, in completing required trainings.
A key feature of the center is the serenity room, designed to offer staff a quiet space to decompress after stressful events.
The department’s focus on wellness extends beyond the physical facilities. Earlier this year, the agency hosted two health conferences, with additional events planned for 2025. The Department’s Correction Assistance Response for Employees (C.A.R.E.) unit, supported by New York State, is actively working to create a shift in organizational culture. This shift aims to support mental health at work, reduce the impact of workplace trauma, promote acceptance of mental health care, increase access to peer programs and other social supports and provide opportunities to learn about resilience, life skill, and healthy coping strategies.
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