The Daily ‘No Crime Is Worth That’
Oct 14, 2021
Jan Ransom, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, delves into the shocking reality inside Rikers Island's jail complex. She discusses a recent investigation uncovering violence and lawlessness, revealing how detainees gain control over units during staff shortages. Richard Brown, a former inmate, shares his harrowing experiences, detailing overcrowding and gang dominance. The conversation exposes the urgent need for systemic reform in a facility plagued by chaos and neglect, emphasizing the profound impact of these issues on both inmates and staff.
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Rikers Intake Chaos
- Richard Brown, detained at Rikers for a probation violation, witnessed a chaotic intake system.
- Detainees slept standing up, a single toilet overflowed, and gang members controlled food and threatened violence.
Violence and Intimidation
- Richard Brown was assaulted for his sneakers two hours after arriving.
- He also witnessed gang members coercing other detainees to strip under threat of stabbing.
Guard Inaction and Pepper Spray
- Guards at Rikers often ignored or downplayed violence, claiming helplessness.
- One detainee smashed a light fixture on a guard's head, prompting indiscriminate pepper spray deployment.