Three individuals at Rikers, a detention facility, have lost their lives within a week in New York City's custody.

A man named Jimmy Avila passed away at the Rikers Island jail complex on Saturday afternoon, marking the third detainee death in city custody in recent days. The Legal Aid Society, which was representing Mr. Avila, has stated that his mental health issues should have been immediately flagged at intake and that he should have been kept under close watch due to his condition.

The death occurred at the West Facility on Rikers Island. However, the Correction Department did not provide details about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Avila's death. The statement from the Correction Department also did not offer any new information about potential negligence or improper care, nor did it provide any details about the location of Mr. Avila's death.

The Legal Aid Society further noted that Mr. Avila had serious mental health issues. According to them, he had been at Rikers Island for less than 24 hours before his death. It is worth mentioning that there is a standard intake process for all detainees to determine any mental health or medical needs, as confirmed by a City Hall spokeswoman.

The Correction Department, in response, stated that they will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of Jimmy Avila's death. They consider the safety and well-being of every person in their custody as their top priority.

It's important to note that no new information about the number of detainee deaths was provided in this report. The search results do not provide the name of the head of the Correction Department in New York City responsible for the death of inmate Jimmy Avila.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the correctional system, particularly in addressing the mental health needs of detainees. Further updates on the investigation are expected to be released as more information becomes available.