How the US's Most Dangerous Jail (Rikers) Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insider
Insider・17 minutes read
Rikers Island has a notorious reputation, with overcrowding, violence, and gang affiliations prevalent, leading to detrimental effects on inmates' well-being. The Close Rikers Campaign aims to address the issue of long wait times for trials and improve conditions at the facility.
Insights
- Rikers Island, notorious for its harsh conditions and gang influences, houses a predominantly pretrial population, with individuals facing violence, limited resources, and a thriving black market for goods.
- The detrimental impact of Rikers Island extends beyond physical confinement, affecting mental health, well-being, and family dynamics, highlighting the urgent need for reform efforts like the Close Rikers Campaign to address systemic issues and improve conditions for detainees.
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Recent questions
What are some nicknames for Rikers Island?
Torture Island, Gladiator School, Bridge of Pain
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Summary
00:00
Rikers Island: Brutal Reality Behind Bars
- Rikers Island is known by various nicknames like Bridge of Pain, Gladiator School, and Torture Island, with 85% of its population awaiting trial.
- The Close Rikers Campaign worked to address the issue of people waiting for years to be seen.
- Vidal Guzman shares his experience of being locked up for robbery at 16 and the harsh realities of life on Rikers Island.
- The facility C-74 housed individuals aged 19-24 facing long sentences, disrupting typical milestones like prom or college planning.
- Survival on Rikers often required violence and adherence to a power structure maintained by correctional officers.
- Inmates engaged in fights, with a "fight club" mentality prevalent, especially among youth.
- The black market thrived within Rikers, with individuals selling items like cigarettes and even creating online businesses for exclusive products.
- The environment on Rikers was dangerous, with makeshift weapons crafted from everyday items and drugs being smuggled in.
- Gang affiliations played a significant role in the dynamics within Rikers, with strict codes and rules to follow.
- Rikers Island's history is marred by oppression, with facilities built on trash, poor living conditions, and a lack of basic amenities like air conditioning.
14:48
Rikers Island: Overcrowding, Gang Tensions, Reforms
- Rikers Island's dormitories are overcrowded, with detainees often gathered for court appearances, medical visits, or on the visiting floor.
- The population on Rikers Island has increased from 4,000 in 2020 to 6,000 currently.
- Gang tensions between the Bloods and Trinitarios led to threats on the narrator's brother's life, prompting the narrator to intervene.
- The narrator's decision to leave the Bloods was influenced by a realization of the harm gangs can cause within families.
- Rikers Island is known for its detrimental impact on individuals' mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, particularly affecting those with mental health issues, financial struggles, and from marginalized communities.
- Legislation like the Kalief law has reduced Rikers' population from 20,000 to 4,000, but issues like broken-window policing and resource shortages have contributed to recent population growth.
