Rikers Island Inmates
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What is Rikers Island really like?
Everybody has an idea of what life is like in jail or prison. Unless you have actually visited (as an inmate or otherwise), though, you probably lean heavily on the pictures that have been drawn by the mainstream media about life behind bars.
However, no jail seems quite as inaccessible to regular people as Rikers Island, an autonomous jail-island located about six miles north of downtown NYC. So what really goes on inside Rikers Island? Is the jail violent, or more laid-back in the usual county-jail fashion? An interview with a recently released New York felon gives us more insight into this issue.
Violence
Violence is not unheard of in Rikers Island, but most people who have been there report that violence is something that can be avoided if you know how to act (and, probably more important, how not to act). By keeping to yourself and avoiding any conflicts, most people will be just fine in Rikers Island and not have anything to worry about.
Most of the violence that does occur is usually triggered by gang affiliations (though even most gang members usually come into jail with the understanding that they have to find some way to co-exist with rival gangs peacefully).
If you or somebody you know is headed to Rikers Island one of your priorities needs to be meeting somebody who can explain the "house gang's" rules. The "house gang" pretty much runs the place - they are inmates who have been entrusted by jail officials to take care of certain operational details. The house gang are like trustees in other jails, but they seem to wield more power even - they can reduce the amount of food you receive when you first arrive and in a sense seem to run the jail (with the guards blessings).
This is markedly different than other jails in the US - for instance, Chatham County Jail inmates report that you never have to worry about a "house gang" running the show - this is unique to Riker's Island.
- Rikers Island Information
Rikers Island - what to expect when you, a loved one or a friend is heading to the Rikers Island. - Inmate Search
Do you suspect that somebody you know is incarcerated but don't know where to start in your search for the inmate? Start with the most likely jail The best place to start is with the jail that you suspect... - Pinellas County Jail
Search free arrest warrants You may be able to call in and find out if you have an outstanding warrant - you will just have to try calling the court or police department that you suspect issued the warrant.... - Utah County Jail Inmates - Inmate Guide
Utah County now offers an online tool for finding all inmates easily - the website shows information for all current inmates and inmates within the past two years.
Leisure Time
In jail you have a lot of free time - pretty much the only requirements are that you eat two meals per day (three are provided) and you clean when the guards (or house gang) instructs you to. Pretty much all the rest of your time is extra time.
Your range of entertainment options really varies based on your location within the island. The "island" is more like a city of inmates, with different classifications of inmates located in different places. So if you are 16-18, you will not be housed in an area with older inmates (this is a curse and a blessing - the idea is to protect the younger inmates, but in general these are the ones more prone to violence since they have not learned the unspoken rules of incarceration yet).
You can expect to be able to play cards (no gambling is technically permitted though it is very common), watch television and work-out. If you are minimum security you will probably have the option to go outside quite a bit and even go to a workout area (complete with weights). Basketball, football and a track are also available for those lucky enough to be housed in C95.
What not to do
In pretty much every jail, but especially Rikers Island, you want to go into jail willing to stand up for yourself if you need to, but not running your mouth and acting like a bad-ass. That is the one thing you can do that will likely lead to you being singled out for a fight or attack.
Also, if you are ever in an area when a riot breaks out (don't worry, these are very uncommon), just try to stay away from the crowd as much as possible. A lot of the violence associated with riots is just unintentional - people are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What to do
Coffee is really popular in Rikers Island. After classification you should be placed in an area with commissary privileges. You should buy a little coffee and share it with a few people when you've had a chance to feel out your fellow inmates and make a few friends. Be careful with this, though - don't share with just anybody and don't share too much. You don't want to be labeled as a punk willing to give your stuff up to just anyone.
The same is true with phone calls, though you should be even more careful not to be too generous with allowing people to make phone calls on your account. Giving away a few here and there to your better friends, though, will go a long way to reinforcing your friendships and sending a message to other inmates that you have somebody willing to stick up for you if they need to.
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The CO's let you fight...they're not as much racist as they are biased. They hate all inmates the same, but they do seem to treat black ones (most CO's I encountered were black) slightly, if that, better.
The CO's let you fight...they're not as much racist as they are biased. They hate all inmates the same, but they do seem to treat black ones (most CO's I encountered were black) slightly, if that, better.
I AS WELL FEEL RIKERS ISLAND SHOULD BE CLOSED, MOST OFFICERS ARE NASTY AND ARROGANT AND HAVE FORGOTTEN ITS ONLY A JOB. MANY OFFICERS PROVOKE ALOT OF UNNECESSARY PROBLEMS WITH INMATES. THERES NO NEED TO DISRESPECT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING JUST BECAUSE OF THERE AUTHORITY. MANY BLACK AMERICIAN OFFICER ARE THE WORST EVEN TO THE VISITORS.MOST VISITORS REMAIN SILENCE WHEN SPOKEN TO NASTY BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH TO VISIT THERE FAMILIES. AND MANY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF RETAILIATION ON THERE LOVE ONES BY OFFICERS. THAN OFFICERS FABRICATE UNTRUE STORIES ON THE INMATES.THERE ARE WORST THAN THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO FALSESIFY REPORTS TO GET AN ARREST.THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.THE WORLD NEEDS TO TRULY SEE WHAT ITS LIKE VISITING THERE. SO IF PEOPLE ARE TREATED AND TALKED TO LIKE THERE NOTHING THAN WHATS BEING AN INMATE LIKE ON THE ISLAND.
Thank you for your hub.
Apparently education is not highly prized among the inmates of Riker's Island. The "hubs" above show that most of the people who are locked up there are RETARDED.
Sorry i though the were there to contain the bad guys that are there.You know the prisoners!!!!Sorry they are not nice to you dumb asses.
ALL I GOT TO SAY IS FREE DWAYNE CARTER FREE WEEZY F. BABY.
I have been to rikers once. For 20 days. The violence in controlled by the jail guards almost all the time. They pay inmates tabacco(its illegal in rikers)to beat and some times rape inmates. Its a weird place. I saw officer Gamble who works at c76 E.M.T.C direct and pay five inmates to beat and rape a small spanish kid. Why? Iam not sure but when I had a chance to ask the guy who was beat and raped. He told me he was in jail for a petty larcenry. That was in 2009 A few months after Christefer robinson was murdered by jail guards in october 08. The feds are in the jail as I write this. So ive been told. More to come dmz
MEGHAN FOX LOSE BEST LOOKING PREDICATE FELON.
SHE JUST DROPED HARD AIDS TO THE MASON AND I AM SEEKING HER PROBATION OFFICE TO DRUG TEST HER AND LOCK HER UP. VIRGINA.
JAIL TIME VIOLATE PROBATION
GOD IS WATCHING EVERYTHING WE ALL DO, AND IT WILL COME BACK TO THEM AND ON THEIR LOVED ONES..PEOPLE REALLY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE SOMEONE THEY'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO ONE DAY..BUT WHEN IT COMES BACK ON THEM AND THE ONE'S THEY LOVE..IT'LL HURT LIKE HELL.!
FREE WEEZY AKA DWAYNE CARTER!!
http://www.writeaprisoner.com/prisoner-locator/new - They don't have a link for finding people on rikers. How do you search for people in jail on rikers???
I have a woman friend that killed her 8 year old kid and is waiting for a trial. She has no bail and has gone crazy so I don't know anything about her life in jail. She is at Rose singing. I wish I could find out more. Is she getting help with her mental problems in jail or she just slipping away ? She is rich will that make things harder for her or better %Pr
as long as incarcerating it's citizens is "big business"
there will be no actual justice
Freeee My Husband Blaze
Freeee My Husband Blaze
Freeee My Husband Blaze
Most co's. R. Pussies. Who. Have low self. Esteme and they have to. Hide when they r off duty. Not even there mates respect them but every once in a while you run across a. Real cop who will fight you one on one. But for the most part cowards who lack power and control over themselves take those jobs like judges, DA's and corrections if you dont beleive me ask their junior highschool class mates
Most co's. R. Pussies. Who. Have low self. Esteme and they have to. Hide when they r off duty. Not even there mates respect them but every once in a while you run across a. Real cop who will fight you one on one. But for the most part cowards who lack power and control over themselves take those jobs like judges, DA's and corrections if you dont beleive me ask their junior highschool class mates
free the boss lamont debose
I am a journalist based in NYC. I am yet to be sure where my research will lead me, but, I would like to be able to communicate--then visit, an inmate who does not have regular visitors.
Please advise.
jon_r_j@hotmail.com
Most of these posts are true about correction officers but at the same time there is reasoning for this. Being a correction officer especially on the island is like playing a game, due to cameras everywhere these jails have no control. The inmates for the most part that come through have no respect which will make their officer become nasty. Me personally am not a nasty person but u come to the hard truth that these inmates did not have respect in their home so when you talk to them w respect it's like speaking a foreign language. The only thing they seem to know is being talked to like a piece of shit. Sad huh? So I say it's like a game because you do have inmates that you can talk to with respect that will respect you for that but mostly if you talk to them with respect they take your kindness for weakness. So you need to feel out who you can be respectful to and who you have to come off a little more nasty to. Here's an example.... Your walking down the hallway, you walk past an inmate that says hello to you. Now the rite respectful decent thing would be to say what's going on how r u? Rite? Like normal human beings. But no it's not like that. Not here. They say hi you turn around and tell them to go fuck them selfs... Their not gonna fuck with you. You say hello back... Almost guaranteed the next time you see that inmate he's gonna whistle at you or blow a kiss or tell u you smell sexy or whatever the case may be. B cause they do not know how to act when getting the respect back. No one comes to work to be whistled or blown kisses at. We r not a piece of meat and at the end of the day will go home feeling completely violated. Inmates are like a stray cat, you give them a little and they don't know how to fall back. They ask you for an extra piece of chicken because they are hungry it's chicken so what, but... You give that innate a piece of chicken and guaranteed he will come up to you everyday for extra food. Oh and tell them no after that 1st piece.... Your a nasty dick sucking how. So it leaves us stuck between a rock in a hard place. It seems there the only way to have a smooth day is to treat these inmates like pieces of shit. Sad to say.
I think that the correctional officers are corrupted, They are the one that bring in all the contraband in the prison, Drugs, tabacco even weapons knifes ,home made weapons and everything that goes on in there they allow it, the should replace all corrupted personnel from rykers. F$$$ Y$$ correctional officer (C O). thank you.
Been in there and from what I seen the (c.o) is f up I know they try to get there job over with just like every one else ,but that is not a reason to go o d on an inmate when they them selfs started the argument acting like they own the whole place in there one thing they should know is that charma is a bitch ... So dont fuck with her
FREE MY BABY FATHER/MY HUSBAND/MY EVERYTHING JEFFRY LOUIS-CHARLES...I LOVE YOU BABY
My man is in there cause some biotch decided to lie on my hubby cuz he would not fix their car for free. Thats messed man. I am 9 months pregnant and i am so scared everyday that something is gonna happen to him there. i don't wanna see anything but i don't know how this place is and by reading it sounds like there are some really BIG douche bags in there. I went to go visit him and yeah the workers was so rude and talked to me like i was an animal. No respect whatso ever.I was sitting in the green seats with him and the couple next to me was that of african american , now don't get me wront i don't hate. i have respect for everyone. Well anyways they was all over each other and the guards didn't say shit to them but when meh dude leaned to kiss me we got yelled at. Like really thats messed. Being 9 months pregnant i cant get comfortable sitting back cause it pulls in the belly and it hurts so i was sitting straight up and this worker walks by and yells at me and tells me i need to sit back. Like some on its not like i am gonna leap outta meh damn chair like a tiger and attack. That place is fucked up on so many levels. I can go on and on with shit i delt with or seen but i would rather not cause i am going there now. Ugh
d jones 2 years ago
I think rikers guards allow a percentage of the violence that goes on at the island. If most officers did there jobs properly many problems could be degeased. Many officers there are arrogant and nasty. There are few decent workers . . many are rude and disrespectful even to visitors especially the black amereicans. However there is no need for the turtles as you call them destroying inmates items without no cause just because they can that organization needs to be eliminated unless they are doing there job properly.Rikers truly needs to be closed. upstate the white people give more respect to people as peole than your own kind, they should know its just a job