Inside Rikers Island: A Harrowing Account of Survival

💀Rikers Island is a dangerous and violent environment where survival is a constant struggle.

👮‍♂️Correctional officers are often complicit in perpetuating violence and maintain a power structure within the facility.

🔒Gangs, such as the Bloods and Latin Kings, play a significant role in Rikers Island's political landscape.

💰The black market thrives in Rikers, with prisoners engaging in illegal activities to make money and survive.

🗑️Rikers Island is built on trash and lacks basic amenities, such as clean water and proper ventilation.

What is Rikers Island known for?

—Rikers Island is known for its high level of violence, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions.

What are the major challenges faced by inmates on Rikers Island?

—Inmates on Rikers Island face challenges such as gang violence, lack of access to clean water and air conditioning, and the constant threat to their safety.

Are correctional officers aware of the violence on Rikers Island?

—Yes, correctional officers are often aware of the violence on Rikers Island and, in some cases, contribute to the perpetuation of conflicts.

How do inmates survive in such a hostile environment?

—Inmates on Rikers Island often have to conform to gang dynamics and engage in violent acts themselves to ensure their own safety.

What are the long-term effects of incarceration on individuals who have been on Rikers Island?

—Long-term effects of incarceration on Rikers Island include trauma, limited rehabilitation opportunities, and a negative impact on an individual's ability to reintegrate into society.

00:00Vidal Guzman introduces himself and shares his personal experience on Rikers Island.

06:00Guzman discusses the dangerous and violent nature of life on Rikers Island.

10:30The role of gangs in Rikers Island's power structure and politics.

13:00The thriving black market on Rikers Island.

16:30The unsanitary conditions and lack of basic amenities on Rikers Island.

20:00Guzman reveals the complicity of correctional officers in perpetuating violence.

24:00The constant threat to safety and the need for inmates to conform to survive.

27:30The long-term effects of incarceration on individuals who have been on Rikers Island.