I was surprised to discover that America’s last floating prison has finally shut down. It turns out that there was a prison barge in New York, something I had no knowledge of until today.
Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center Is Now Closed
In 1992, the New York City Department of Corrections introduced a floating prison barge known as the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center. The facility, nicknamed “The Boat,” was designed to address the issue of overcrowding in Rikers Island by providing a medium- to maximum-security prison with 800 beds spread across 16 dormitories and 100 cells. The cost to construct this innovative solution was $161 million.
In its history, the prison has served traditional inmates, juvenile inmates and is currently used as a holding and temporary processing center.
In 2014, Guinness World Records recognized it as the world’s largest prison barge, making it a part of history.
The credit for the video content goes to Associated Press, which is available on the platform of Youtube. In 2021, Stephan Khadu, aged 24, passed away on a barge due to a treatable meningitis infection, as reported by the Washington Examiner. Prior to his death, he had informed his mother, Lezandre Khadu, that the ship was overrun with rodents, mold, and was unbearably hot. She expressed her thoughts on the closure of the facility, stating,
I’m walking over that bridge with a bucket of mimosas, and I’m going to have the biggest party ever. I want to see for myself that there will never be another soul on that boat.
Protests have taken place against the ship, with many referring to it as a “slave ship” during its time in operation. Currently, the ship will remain under the custody of the New York City Department of Corrections.
Also Read:
- Brooklyn Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Murder Committed in 2020
- Compton resident receives 166-year prison sentence for ambush-style shooting of 2 LASD deputies
- Incarcerated Georgia inmate receives 27+ year sentence for distributing methamphetamine from prison
