Denina Roman says an alternative-to-incarceration program gave her a chance to rebuild her life. She went on to earn her GED and, at 30, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Community Justice. Speaking at a City Hall rally, Roman pointed to her own story as evidence for expanding alternatives to incarceration and urged New York City to follow through on closing Rikers Island. NYC law still calls for the jail complex to close by Aug. 31, 2027, although city officials have acknowledged that the deadline is unlikely to be met.
