As the possibility of former President Donald Trump being jailed for contempt looms over his New York hush money trial, the question of where — and under what conditions — he would be detained has become a topic of intense speculation.
The idea of a major party’s candidate being held behind bars during the election is unprecedented.
Should the judge rule Trump in contempt have order him detained, experts suggest that Trump could be held in a range of facilities, each with its own set of challenges… and potential horrors.
One option is a brief stay in a holding cell near the courtroom. These cells, meant for short-term habitation, are small and claustrophobic, with loud, sliding metal doors that slam shut with a resounding clang.
Veteran New York defense lawyer Ronald Kuby, who has spent time in these cells for various acts of protest, said the cells have the very basics: a toilet, a bench, and little else. While a short stay in such a cell would be tolerable, it would no doubt be difficult for a longer detention.
For a longer detention, Trump could be housed in the courthouse’s “rabbit warren” of cells that feed into the specific holding areas for various courtrooms.
These larger holding spaces might provide slightly more room to move around, but they would still be a far cry from Mar-a-Lago or Trump Tower.
Perhaps the most daunting prospect is the possibility of Trump being sent to Rikers Island, New York City’s largest jail complex, located on the East River in the Bronx. Known for its history of violence, unsanitary conditions, and overall “culture of brutality,” Rikers Island has been the subject of numerous critical reports and calls for reform.
Since January 2022, at least 31 people have died in custody at Rikers, with many of these deaths attributed to overcrowding and dangerous conditions.
Disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein died while being held on Rikers Island under mysterious circumstances.
Darren Mack, co-director of Freedom Agenda, a group of formerly incarcerated people advocating for the closure of Rikers Island, spent 19 months in the jail’s adolescent facility in the early 1990s. He described the experience as one of “pretrial punishment and suffering,” with crumbling walls and a pervasive atmosphere of violence and neglect from the Department of Correction staff.
In August and September 2023, 91 detainees were stabbed or slashed on Rikers Island, while 31 staff members were suspended for misconduct related to the use of force in July and August of the same year.
The physical conditions are equally difficult, with aging buildings in various states of disrepair, severe overcrowding, and reported unsanitary conditions. Inmates have reported finding live roaches, ants, water bugs, fruit flies, gnats, and mouse droppings in their living spaces and even in their food.
If Trump were to be sent to Rikers Island, he would likely be housed in the West Facility, which has individual cells for detainees. Ironically, this could place him in close proximity to his former staffer, Allen Weisselberg, who is currently serving a five-month perjury sentence in the same facility for lying during Trump’s civil fraud trial.
While the Secret Service would undoubtedly work to ensure Trump’s safety and security in any detention scenario, the challenges posed by a jail stay, particularly on Rikers Island, would be significant.
From the constant noise and lack of privacy to the potential exposure to violence and unsanitary conditions, a jailed Trump would face a reality far removed from the comfort his wealth has afforded him.
As the New York hush money trial proceeds and the possibility of a contempt ruling lingers, the unprecedented nature of such a scenario has left many wondering what life would be like for Donald Trump in jail, and whether even a brief stay in the harsh conditions of Rikers Island or a courthouse holding cell would influence the results of the 2024 election.
Only Judge Juan Merchan knows if he will resort to this ultimate sanction in the short term.
No one knows what such a ruling would mean for Trump — and America — in the long term.