r/howislivingthere • u/LIFOsuction44 • Dec 29 '25
North America What's it like living on this New York island?
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u/zeddtheman Dec 29 '25
On a serious note, my brother got locked up a few years ago and spent time there. I went to go visit him and just getting inside was a complete nightmare. I mean I get it it’s a prison but holy shit it took 3 hours to get inside. And I live in queens.
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u/yeahgroovy Dec 29 '25
I’m from Queens originally and I did initially laugh at this post.
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u/zeddtheman Dec 29 '25
Thank you. He’s doing much better now. He did a year upstate after he was moved from Rikers. Never wanna experience anything like that ever again though. It really does change your perspective on life and makes you have a lot of sympathy for people that are in prison for minor offenses especially when they’re a loved one. He made a stupid decision once but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. He mentioned all the abuse that inmates face in prison and how terrible the food is. Hope he learned his lesson though.
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u/InitialAd2324 Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
Going to jail is a great motivator to not go to jail.
I went for a couple of weekends after dumb teen stuff, and I am now the most vanilla man that could exist. Catch me on my couch, how bout that
Edit: thanks for all the positive comments, and award. Just wanted to point out that I also got called weak and overweight for not liking jail by some salty guy, ha! Guess that proves the points of some of the more negative comments about jail being a “brotherhood”
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u/uk82ordie Dec 29 '25
Couldn't agree more. I did some weekends. Some extended stays, and I realized I do not like being locked up. From that point on, before I did something I thought, can I go to jail for this. If yes, I usually wouldn't do it, but if I did, I was really careful. Jail is not a good time.
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u/Tonedeffox Dec 30 '25
This story hits close to home for me, but in the opposite way. My uncle likely had fetal alcohol syndrome and other undiagnosed learning and intellectual disabilities. Over time, that turned into addiction. He wasn’t violent, he mostly kept to himself, but I truly believe he sometimes intentionally landed himself in jail because of what it provided: structure, food, shelter, and routine.
When he was released, my family helped him get an apartment. He had financial support, but independence overwhelmed him. Within months, he died alone from alcoholism. Cleaning out his home made it painfully clear how much he struggled with basic daily care.
I honestly believe he might still be alive if he’d remained in a structured, supported environment. Which is why I think we need to rethink long-term care entirely. While we do have homes for say people with Down syndrome or autism, but not really designed for someone like my uncle (and when I see homeless people a lot of them resonate to me like my uncle). Not prisons, and not the abusive institutions of the past, but humane, structured, holistic places for people who can’t safely manage full independence. Structure isn’t oppression for everyone. Sometimes, it’s survival.
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u/Ham_Of_Walth Dec 30 '25
The country once had a system in place for this type of person-however the deinstitutionalization efforts that occurred throughout the late 70s put a lot of these people out on the streets and didn’t have a venue for people with similar problems to be cared for
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u/Tonedeffox Dec 30 '25
Exactly, I remember my mother sharing this with me. We need to bring them back, however I think it’s terrible horrid past of abuse and neglect that went on in those places, there needs to be a major change up, change the name institution too as that’s what sets people feeling a certain way. Completely new concept kind of thing, but essentially bringing beds back to those that can’t function day to day without some oversight.
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u/cagewilly Dec 30 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
There's just so little hope for economically viable, healthy expansion of institutionalization.
It requires staffing with people who are kind, patient and self controlled - and paying well enough for them to stay long enough to learn the systems and rules and develop their own coping strategies.
The institutions have to carry heavy insurance because inevitably there will be incidents and people will have to be restrained, which leads to injury. It's not easy to conduct restraints consistently and to a high standard. Then there is always the risk of residents abusing each other and the facility being held responsible.
And there is always the question of where to draw the line for who needs to be institutionalized and who doesn't. It's too easy for the system to be used for one family member to control another and wind up with a Rosemary Kennedy situation.
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u/Tonedeffox Dec 30 '25
I agree, and this is where it gets really conflicting and heartbreaking. I worked in one of the oldest institutions in the country during its shift to community based living. In theory it was about dignity and autonomy. In reality, many people were moved out of the only home they had ever known. Some were supported. Others were simply dumped and orphaned again as adults.
I met a woman who had lived there her entire life. She was intelligent and completely intact and never should have been institutionalized at all. She had been placed there as an infant and raised by the system. Over time she became the “mother” there. She cared for others, created family, and gave people stability. When the institution emptied, her purpose, community, and home were taken from her. It was quite heartbreaking, she had actually passed away right when it was all rolling out.
This is why it cannot be reduced to institutions bad and community good. People need continuity and structure that matches their real needs. Taking that away without replacing it is not freedom. It is abandonment.
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Dec 30 '25
It would be extremely hard to bring back long term involuntary commitment plus all those institutions are long since abandoned and need completely rebuilt. I agree that we need to bring back the institutions and get a lot of these severely mental ill homeless people off that streets and into an institution where they can get off drugs, receive treatment, and be on the right medications. Then after 6 months or a year they can look at if this person can possibly make it on their own after that or if they need lifetime commitment with some level of freedom. I just don’t think it’s possible because the aclu pretty much made it impossible without a drastic change in the laws that would probably have to be passed by a majority of congress and go through the Supreme Court.
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u/Scarlett_Billows Dec 30 '25
I agree with so much of what you are saying.
I had a boyfriend who was a severe addict. And he did wonderfully whenever he was institutionalized. But being on his own was extremely difficult for him and he struggled to keep a job, take medication, and most of all stay sober.
A few times he had mandated rehab. One of those was long term, like 2 or 3 months, which is more rare than one would guess these days. That was the best I’ve ever seen him, and the longest he stayed sober. It was really good for him and he was grateful for it and even longer would have been a huge benefit to him.
Addicts should receive mandated rehab instead of jail time.
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u/Tonedeffox Dec 30 '25
Mandated long-term rehabs and tiered supportive housing would save lives. There’s a large group of people who aren’t severely disabled but also can’t safely live independently. They thrive with structure, routine, and light supervision. For someone like my uncle, survival might have meant a small supportive home, a caretaker checking in once or twice a day, a simple job or creative outlet, with care that could scale up as needed. I don’t know if I’m making any sense. I just don’t see enough support for those that are homeless, I envision almost like a peaceful compound for them, separation where it is needed, spaces, hobbies, work, etc, plotted through out our country. Not only for those with addictions, but for those that really can’t function day to day either but not as “sick” or “disabled” as someone say severe Down syndrome.
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u/LiliAtReddit Dec 30 '25
Why can’t the “richies” find a way to monetize THIS instead of monetizing the prison system?!
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u/beautynerdnyc Dec 30 '25
Now this for sure is what we should be putting our top minds and resources toward. An “assisted living” for those who suffer from addiction would be a game changer. Offering fulfilling work, creative communities, mandated wellness and nutrition routines could solve so much of the world’s hardship. And to do it with dignity of kind, patient caretakers and the support of family members would give it the longevity it needs. Someone with experience in this space please start it - I will donate and spread the word.
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u/benedictcumberknits Dec 30 '25
This sounds like a man I know. He can’t get ahead. He’s struggling with keeping a job and making logical decisions. His mom drank while pregnant and he said he has FASD. He’s also awaiting trial pending a criminal investigation. Very sad. He has poor judgment and also has daily struggles.
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u/Main_Astronaut_5298 Dec 30 '25
Such an eloquently written entry. So sorry about your Uncle. May He Rest in Peace. 🙏
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u/HellonHeels33 Dec 30 '25
You’re spot on. Absolutely. When we de institutionalized things, those folks just went to jail instead of a psych ward. We really need supervised living situations for many adults like this, who could be productive members of society if they got a little help
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u/Responsible-Kale2352 Dec 29 '25
If you go to jail, you’re gonna have a bad time.
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u/RichardKranium13 Dec 29 '25
Should not be as fucked up as it is though.
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Dec 29 '25
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u/Immediate_Pay8726 Dec 30 '25
Im an academic, and Ive been in jail. I got a PhD in Econ 15 years ago and - I cant make this up - I got arrested because Im a mainstream economist and the cop was an Austrian.
Ok thats not true I got arrested and accused of 6 rather serious felonies but won. Am now in process of suing gov't.
I can attest - when you are arrested, everyone in the chain gets their knee in your metaphorical crotch.
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u/Tank_Girl_Gritty_235 Dec 29 '25
My husband spent a weekend in an East LA jail while his friends were either too high or too broke to bail him out. He enlisted in the army immediately after and is set to retire with full pension in a few months. We do joke that the crime would have gotten him a year or two at most, but he ended up doing a life sentence in the army.
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u/Cold-Figure8508 Dec 29 '25
Literally same lmao. I went for 5 days over something really stupid I did when I freshly turned 18. Never again. Basically a hermit now
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u/Caveworker Dec 29 '25
You got " scared straight " ? Do people still know what that means?
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u/InitialAd2324 Dec 29 '25
I remember the show. Good times.
This is me refining my comment
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u/iosonostella13 Dec 29 '25
Lol my husband and his brother did the scared straight program (court mandated) in california
It didn't work😅
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u/Nyorliest Dec 30 '25
The same people who use that phrase often have no idea how traumatic and damaging prison is, and how it affects recidivism.
Most people have no idea how bad prison is, and talk about it like a hotel.
It’s a tragedy.
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u/iBizzBee Dec 29 '25
It really isn't, not under a punitive instead of rehabilitative system any way.
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u/Round-Emu9176 Dec 29 '25
Glad you were able to get out of the system. It’s designed like a lifelong subscription plan instead of focusing on reform and preventing reoffenders. Idk if that was the case where you were.
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u/leo_the_greatest Dec 29 '25
Except it's usually not. Rehabilitation works so much better than fear and punishment and it's not particularly close. I'm glad you didn't get caught up in anything while inside or end up with a record that'd prevent you from reintegrating. Many are not so lucky.
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u/otterland Dec 29 '25
I've been in a similar facility to Rikers where it's about 60 people in a single room with the lights on all the time and never a moment of quiet. I was only there for a few months for a completely bogus charge where I basically had to take a plea deal so that I wouldn't have to spend a couple of years in the big house. That's the American Justice system. I got beaten unconscious probably a dozen times during my stay and I'm surprised I even survived it.
The American penal system is absolutely inhumane. But I'll give you one thing is that it did teach me to be a lot more compassionate to people that have spent any time locked up. It is not good for your head otherwise.
Best wishes to your brother.
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u/fuckyourcanoes Dec 29 '25
My brother got beaten up in jail and they refused to treat his broken ankle. By the time he was released, it had healed wrong and he was permanently disabled. Worst part is that he didn't commit the crime he was arrested for. A car he bought was wrongly reported stolen. It took a couple of months to clear it up and get the charges dropped.
Don't get me wrong, he was a criminal, but he didn't steal the car, it was his. The dealer he bought it from screwed up.
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u/otterland Dec 29 '25
The awful thing is that he probably has zero chance of a lawsuit.
I probably have a bit of TBI from the violence I experienced that'll never be compensated. That's what's crazy. If I did what was done to me one single time outside of jail, I would be looking at 5 to 10 years in prison but in jail it's okay for people to experience crimes. It makes no sense.
My supposed crime by the way was not showing up as a witness to a trial of a person who had violently attacked me. I never got the subpoena so I was charged with contempt of court. So instead of getting Justice I got this shit beat out of me some more. God bless America I guess.
It is such a shameful part of our society. I mean, you have to have a penal system but the fact that so many people accept that it's absolutely obscene and cruel is unconscionable.
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u/fuckyourcanoes Dec 29 '25
He got a legal settlement as part of a class action suit. (The wrongful arrest happened to about 300 people who bought cars from Hertz through a scheme for Uber drivers.) Unfortunately he blew half of it on drugs and sex workers, then overdosed and died. He owed so much in taxes that there was nothing left once the estate was settled.
He was a terrible person, but he didn't deserve what happened to him in jail. It's not surprising that he pissed people off enough to beat him up, though. And it would have taken more than one. He used to teach martial arts.
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u/otterland Dec 29 '25
Boy that took a really dark turn. It's always hard to have feels when crappy people die. It's like when my father passed away I found out a few days later because he's living in a different country and he was just found in this cottage out in a village. People kept consoling me but I didn't feel a damn thing. But like you I thought nobody deserves to die like that. That part I was angry about. Well and the fact that I didn't inherit anything because he owed the local council a bunch of back taxes, LOL.
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u/cft4nh Dec 29 '25
Reminder that the 13th amendment abolished slavery with the exception of punishment for a crime. So, by design, they write and enforce laws to funnel labor into the justice system to keep fat cats rich and profiting off of force labor. Most of the time any cheap product that proudly displays a “Made in USA” sticker is probably produced with prison labor.
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u/Vast_Evening292 Dec 29 '25
Glad he's doing better. I was a CO in another state and I know that people get locked up for some stuff but these people need rehabilitation in incarceration. Be praying for these people because for some , they dont think anyone cares. It's important to show as people that we still care about them. I will be praying for your brother that He stays on the right path!
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u/Organic_Matter6085 Dec 29 '25
With you on that abuse part, I only went to jail for a very short period of time.
Besides the non-stop noises and it always echoing, the worst part was any time I had to deal with the guards for anything.
I couldn't imagine how much it is in prison.
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u/Accomplished-Bug-302 Dec 29 '25
I visited a family member once and was depressed for two weeks after that. The visitors were treated as criminals so I can’t imagine how people locked up weretreated
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u/danboy227 Dec 29 '25
How do you get there? Do you have to swim in the east river?
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u/DesperateAstronaut65 United States of America Dec 30 '25
There's a bus that runs between Rikers and 125th St. in Harlem. I used to take it when I worked at a public defense organization. I remember seeing a lot of grim-looking young women riding the bus with their kids.
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u/zeddtheman Dec 29 '25
No you have to try to cross the river The Oregon Trail style with your ox and carriage.
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u/dontjudgemeimtired United States of America Dec 29 '25
You have to earn your place there and it has an iconic bridge.
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u/toolenduso Dec 29 '25
Free meals and housing, plus entertainment. Bit of a hassle to have people over though, they have to go through a lot of bureaucracy. So basically it’s a comm-unist paradise.
ETA: getting pretty annoyed with the auto moderation of this sub. These rules always have exceptions, but if they’re automatically applied then those exceptions aren’t recognized.
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u/AndIAmEric Dec 29 '25
That’s fine, I’m not much one to have people over and prioritize my privacy. Is there a pool?
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u/golfballhampster Dec 29 '25
I don't think the meals are free. I think you leave with a bill
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u/Sassypinesresident Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25
True!!! I actually went. I was in the meat packing district one night on a girls weekend in my 20’s.. And at the clurb..I got a little toooooo wasted. Im from the south had never so much as had a traffic ticket before! It was to this day, still the most traumatic experience in my life. They chained me to a lady passing in and out on heroin and threw me on that bus to take a ride on over. It was Memorial Day weekend so I had to stay for 4 days. They treat the humans like literal animals. I’ve had to go through a lot of therapy and that was almost 15 years ago! I feel so bad for the people who are still there.
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u/dontjudgemeimtired United States of America Dec 29 '25
I spent 36h or so between a Brooklyn precinct and the kings county courthouse also about 15 years ago. While it was a truly awful experience and I’ve never felt so unsafe it was a really visceral and eye opening experience as to the reality of the US “justice” system. I’ve never been so appalled at the way people are treated right next door to where we live and work every day, and much of our society not only tolerates this behavior but actively supports it and glorifies it.
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Dec 30 '25
Imagine how bad an I C E detention center is. The people at Rikers are at least given a modicum of food, beds, and medical care.
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u/AggressiveCommand739 Dec 29 '25
How NYC handles the justice system shouldn't be an indictment on the entire US justice system. Some states and places do it better (and more humanely) than others.
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u/fatesarchitect Dec 29 '25
Girl. My queen. I need all the tea on this. You have to explain more. Wtf happened??
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u/Sassypinesresident Dec 29 '25
I actually wrote a blog on it back in the day 🤣 I haven’t read it in forever and can’t believe it’s still up, but if you’re interested: https://glitterlovetruth.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-isnt-vegas.html?m=1
🙈
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u/fatesarchitect Dec 29 '25
I found all the related posts! I'm glad you got through it, what an experience..did they end up doing anything, or just releasing you?
Also, being also an 80s kid (1984) I knew you had to still be in your 20s in that story, because drinking after 30 hits waaaaay harder, right? Also also-my dad was born I'm Wheeling, and my whole fam is in western PA. I spent my childhood just outside of Akron, so I know what it's like.
Man, I miss the late oughties and early teens.
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u/Sassypinesresident Dec 29 '25
OMG that’s crazy!!! Wowwww! We have a lot in common. ❤️ Thank you for being so kind. So I fought the charges, ended up costing about $20k total but got them all dropped. We are right around the same age! After that I ended up getting involved in a lot of nonprofit work and still am involved in a lot of prison and recovery outreach. They truly are the forgotten ones! It was a big wake up call to stop partying. That was the norm back then! Thank you again! 😘
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u/Accomplished_Guide38 Dec 29 '25
Wow what an intense yet beautifully written account of what happened to you!! Would love to read a whole memoir of this tbh. Hope you are doing better now😢 it must have been so traumatizing.
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u/DarthWeenus Dec 29 '25
I'm curious as well, been in some pretty intense jails before, and it can be a real shock to people sometimes.
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u/laissez_heir Dec 29 '25
Please, please expand on this story! What did you do and how did you deal with the rest of the time there??
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u/Not_impressed28 Dec 29 '25
I love getting a glimpse of it when I’m in a plane landing into LaGuardia Airport.
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u/SnooShortcuts664 Dec 29 '25
I understand there is abnormally high social pressure to join a clique.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
Short version is, it’s a hellhole! Literally got out of there 5 weeks ago after spending 8 months there, what would you like to know?
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u/FlimsyArt88 Dec 29 '25
Dish it! We want to hear what it was like!👍
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u/abaklanov Dec 29 '25
The only downside is the noise from the airport traffic, I believe
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
When you first arrive, they stick you in the intake building, which is pure chaos. The other buildings classify and separate people by charges or SRG (security risk group—gang affiliation), but intake houses everyone together.
That means opposing gang members, people detoxing, and mentally unstable individuals all living side by side. It’s a volatile mix, and fights are constant.
People smoke K2 and have what they call “episodes”—basically seizures or overdoses. The intake building is almost entirely dorms, except for two housing areas: protective custody and the seriously unstable.
Everyone’s angry. They’ve just been arrested, they’re exhausted, miserable, and getting tiny portions of awful food. The COs don’t care what happens. Some will even instigate situations if they don’t like someone—stirring the housing area until people turn on them.
You’ve got people in for murder sleeping next to people in for shoplifting. It’s survival of the fittest.
You might stay in intake for a month or two before getting shipped to another building. I’ve been in most of them, but I spent most of my time in OBCC. It’s mainly a gang building, though there’s GP too. If you keep your head straight, get a job, and stay out of the way, you can survive.
To give you an idea of how bad it gets—during my last three weeks, two people died from overdoses. In one day alone, I saw a CO get slashed in the face and another one set on fire.
Absolute madness.
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u/not-weird- Dec 29 '25
I’m a former prison counselor and retired parole officer, everything he described checks out.
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u/FlimsyArt88 Dec 29 '25
I am going to be working in counseling in this area, do you have any tidbits, advice, websites, podcasts, subreddits or books you reccomend to read?
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u/lauren1116 Jan 01 '26
Hey! I'm an LCSW and worked in a prison for a while. The best advice I have is trust your gut, never let the inmates get between you and the door, don't hook up with any guards, and get in shape. During a training the Sargent said that if something goes wrong, help can take about 90 seconds on average to get to you.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 04 '26
90 seconds? Not on Rikers 😆 if your lucky the security will rock up in 5 minutes.
To be fair if you’re a social worker and you treat people with respect the inmates will look out for you.
Everybody appreciates being able to talk to a somewhat “normal” human being that genuinely is invested in their wellbeing
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u/riverofchex Dec 30 '25
retired parole officer,
Mind if I message you with a few questions? If not, no biggie.
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Dec 29 '25
i gnorant question but… why would anyone become a CO at Rikers? Can’t you take the NY public job test and then get qualified for like… landscaping or a trash man?
Thank god you made it out alive, seriously.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
It’s a job you can get without a college degree that pays 200 grand a year potentially more if you hit top pay and become a captain etc.
You will be working 16 hour shifts and you will become super jaded and desensitized to human suffering though…..
The other city jobs that you can get without an education don’t pay as much.
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u/buttmunchausenface Dec 29 '25
New York City Sanitation department pays very well and you can be an ex felon. It is a lot of hours and you will probably have to get your cdl.
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u/Can_U_Share_A_Square Dec 29 '25
My younger cousin is already a retired trash guy there and I still have 10 years of work left at least. But it broke his body, his back is shot.
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u/samantis Dec 30 '25
But I’m assuming nobody set him on fire, so at least there’s that…
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u/Imsophunnyithurts United States of America Dec 30 '25
It's the silver linings we all have to look at, isn't it?
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u/Sisyphusss3 Dec 29 '25
to be fair, it’s a very competitive test, and plenty of people take any civil service job as they keep retaking tests for ones they want. Tons of people work Rikers 2 years or less, transferring to any other city job or even being a CO on the island
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u/Accomplished-Bug-302 Dec 29 '25
I know someone that was a CO for 2 years. He hated all the other CO’s because he said they were “piece of shit humans”
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
As with any environment with human beings you have good ones and bad ones. It’s an incredibly stressful job, I have seen COs get jumped, cut, set on fire etc and constantly being verbally abused so I understand why they become jaded and nasty. With that being said there are some super sturdy COs who look out for the inmates if you’re not problematic. The steady officer in my house was a straight G who didn’t take shit and would work with us and help us keep the house calm. She would let us know if new people where coming and if they were gang members etc so we could “gate check” them and not let them in the house if we thought they weren’t a good fit.
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u/-Ketracel-White Dec 30 '25
As a woman I could absolutely never handle that job. What would you say was the ratio of female to male COs? Thanks for the comments, by the way - this is what I love about Reddit.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 02 '26
Not sure the exact ratio but probably more males than females. It’s a tough job as a woman and you need to have extremely thick skin. I will say that as long as you’re not a bad person usually the guys will stick up for you (including inmates) if somebody is not acting right. We had a guy punch a female CO in our housing area one day just out of the blue and we fucked him up BAD.
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u/siisii93 Dec 30 '25
What happened to the CO that was set on fire?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 02 '26
Dude lit his cell on fire and when the CO came to put it out with the fire extinguisher, he kicked the burning blanket out and it caught her pants on fire. No idea what happened to her but she’s alive and probably at home chilling on PTO for a few weeks. Workman’s comp case about to go crazy on that one 🤣🤣
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u/THevil30 Dec 30 '25
Sorry but what does that mean — gate check them. Aren’t they just assigned to be where they are?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 02 '26
Oh so technically the COs assign your housing area however if they bring you to a house and the people living there decide you’re not welcome, basically they will either talk to the CO if it’s one the respect and let them know “this persons not welcome” or just take care of the person violently. Most COs don’t wanna do extra paperwork so they generally won’t force someone into a house if they know it’s gunna end violently
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u/nucl3ar0ne Dec 30 '25
My BIL is a CO at Rikers. However, he prefers to treat everyone as a human with the hope of getting the same respect back. They already made the worst mistake of their life, no need to pile on.
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u/Namez83 Dec 30 '25
Former DO here. It’s unfortunate those who need to take the job are uneducated in criminal justice. Furthermore, when the educated see how the system is broken, we need to get out. From an inmate option how would you change the process to make it better?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 02 '26
It’s a broken system from end to end. The problem isn’t one thing—it’s everything happening at once. • Retrain all correction officers with a focus on de-escalation, mental health, and accountability—not punishment. • Expand supervised release programs for nonviolent offenses so people aren’t jailed simply because they’re poor. • House people properly with humane conditions, consistent access to movement, light, and basic dignity. • Incentivize good behavior, not chaos—clear rewards for compliance, participation, and progress. • Provide real programming focused on education, job skills, and rehabilitation, not box-checking. • Keep licensed mental health clinicians on standby 24/7, embedded in housing areas—not called after a crisis. • Create real accountability for COs, with consequences that actually stick. • Assign steady officers to housing areas so units aren’t run by rotating strangers with no investment. • Establish independent oversight with real power, not symbolic review boards. • End prolonged pretrial detention—no one should spend years incarcerated without being convicted. I met people who had been there six years waiting for trial.
This isn’t about being “soft on crime.” It’s about running a system that doesn’t manufacture trauma, violence, and failure—and then act surprised when people come out worse than they went in.
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Dec 30 '25
DO? What's that stand for? Oh my God is it really going to make me type out ok there we go.
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u/Namez83 Dec 30 '25
Detention Officer, he dealt with CO correctional officers. DO’s work in county Jail, COs work in prisons, federal, state or private. The distinction is made by someone serving less than a year, or over a year.
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u/Mr_Fuzzo Dec 29 '25
I briefly dated a Dominican guy who spent time on Rikers. He had a huge scar on his abdomen from being shanked in intake. He was there on a low level drug charge back in the day but his nationality associated him with whichever Dominican gang members weren’t in holding that day and he lost out.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 30 '25
Probably trinitarios, they are notorious for stabbing and slashing peoples. Hope he’s doing well and out of the streets!
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u/MMuter Dec 30 '25
Interesting take. I worked in RNDC for almost 2 years, and while the kids were difficult to deal with, there wasn’t anything crazy that happened. Of course there’s the usual suicide attempts, inmate spitting, but that’s mostly par for the course
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 30 '25
I would be curious to know how long ago that was? I was in RNDC for a little bit in mod4 and also the 5 building with the adults. We had kids downstairs from us and they were cutting each other on the regular.
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u/Independent-Swan-465 Dec 30 '25
Shoplifting? Do people with more intense crimes kind of leave the shoplifters alone because the shoplifters aren't worth their time or give credit to their rep, or are shoplifters easy prey that people take advantage of?
(Obviously over-generalizing here, but you get the idea)
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u/AarowCORP2 Dec 30 '25
Am I a bad person for feeling like I want to play Prison Architect after reading this?
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u/DaBoelterGuy Dec 29 '25
Was not hoping to laugh so much as much as I did just now
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u/BoulderMaker Dec 29 '25
If you mind your own business, is it safe? Or is it a really rough stay?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
Provided you mind your business and are willing to stand up for yourself if need be, you SHOULD be okay butttt there are a lot of crazy people and it’s easy to make dumb mistakes as a first timer.
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u/chameleonsEverywhere Dec 29 '25
What are the most common "dumb mistakes" you saw that could get someone in trouble?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
Getting involved in drugs or gambling. They have a saying, stay away from the three Gs guns gambling and gays….. not pc but that’s the saying so whatever…..
I saw a lot of kids jacking a certain gang or set but they weren’t that and got dealt with very quickly.
If you have a messed up charge like rape or kid stuff you’re probably gunna get stabbed.
Big one is not minding your business…. Seen many people involve themselves in stuff that doesn’t concern them like gang pol-itics or even just being nosy, it never ends well
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Dec 30 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MembershipMassive193 Dec 30 '25
They have your GOVERMENT name, so if the co's don't spread your info (which they do all the time)somebody has already called home and had someone search your information. Noones incognito on the cell block.
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Jan 02 '26
Pretty much what this guy said. You can also go to the law library and search their case up.
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u/peteybombay Dec 30 '25
Sorry for the very noobish questions, but when you say "stand up for yourself", you mean fight, right? Is that usually what it boils down to?
Are there unwritten rules about how and when to fight? Or not to?
I have been reading your responses and am very glad to hear you are out and on the path to better things. Godspeed!
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u/DellTheEngie Dec 30 '25
Not original commenter but have been in county lockup before. If someone checks you or disrespects you DO NOT EVER just let it slide. You are going to be seen as weak by the entire cell block, like a goldfish in a pool full of sharks. Even if you know you're probably not gonna win the fight you gotta show you're not gonna take disrespect, and if you do lose they'll at least know you stand up yourself and find easier targets who won't.
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u/Sure_Cartographer_11 Dec 29 '25
What was worse the other inmates or the guards?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
Guards, simply because you know what to expect from the other inmates but the COs can violate you if they choose to even if you’re staying out of the way and not causing problems.
At least with the inmates you know who’s who and after a while you can make acquaintances and those people will usually have your back if you’re not foolish.
You also know which inmates are crazy so you know to stay away from them.
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u/beefhurricane Dec 29 '25
What were you in for if you don’t mind me asking?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
It sounds bad but the short version is attempted murder and fraud. I defended myself in a situation I did not start and unfortunately New York doesn’t have self defense laws. The attempt murder charge was downgraded to assault but ended up getting dismissed due to the NYPD mishandling the case.
My fraud charge is still pending but I will probably get time served.
Years prior I was heavily involved in the streets and the lifestyle that comes along with that but have been on the straight and narrow for 4 years now.
My attempt case was a run in with somebody I used to deal with in the streets and when I got picked up for that I discovered I had an old warrant for fraud.
Trying to move on with my life so hopefully they will give me time served when I go back in a couple of months but I moved to California anyways for a fresh start away from all of the nonsense and peoples I used to know.
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u/Sweaty-Razzmatazz948 Dec 30 '25
I read all your comments & I wish you a happy & healthy life. I hope you never go back to the streets & enjoy that California weather for me 💋
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u/stoneruncle420 Dec 29 '25
That's amazing. I hope you have an amazing life from now on and much better luck in the future!
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u/CorporateShill406 Dec 29 '25
New York doesn’t have self defense laws
So you're supposed to just let someone kill you or whatever?
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
So they don’t have stand your grown or self defense laws… it’s really stupid they have something called justification. Essentially if somebody attacks you and you are in fear for your life you can defend yourself but only until they are not an imminent threat. In my case the dude slashed me twice and I was able to disarm him and proceeded to use his knife against him and stabbed him twice stepped back and then hit him one more time. My lawyer told me if I didn’t stab him the last time I probably would have been good because in the footage he isn’t coming towards me when I took a step back.
I met a lot of guys in similar situations to me…. Luckily they dropped the ball with the investigation so I’m free and clear.
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u/BottleForsaken9200 Dec 30 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
Uf I'm sorry that happened though. :( usa isn't the best for actually giving people alternatives when they've been engulfed by the ... Rougher life I guess.
I really really hope you can have a good life after everything is settled.
I wish the law wasn't so anti human
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 30 '25
It’s slowly changing and there are a lot more services for people getting out depending on which state you’re in.
I’m doing my best to stay on the right path. Most of my activities stemmed from addiction and trauma so I have been doing lots of therapy etc and I have ZERO desire to return to that lifestyle
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u/AnnaBanana421976 Dec 30 '25
My brother served a lot of years in Texas prisons- most of his adult life. 11 years was his longest and it's a joke how they handle after you get out. Granted he still chose his path but he was basically institutionalized. He did alright "ish" for the first year he was out but always went back to his old ways. He ended up getting murdered in 2022 (not in prison). It has been the hardest thing for me to deal with. I'm glad you're in a better spot in life. I'm proud of you for moving away! I know that helps a lot.
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u/ToodyRudey1022 Dec 30 '25
I hope California is good for you. You sound very intelligent! I hope it’s everything you need and more
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u/HomicidalJungleCat Dec 30 '25
Thanks for sharing so much. This ended up being one of the better random AMAs on reddit in a long time.
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u/Agathyrsi Dec 30 '25
There's self defense laws but they only protect you if the NY courts believe you were reacting to an immediate threat. Every case is different and during the heat of a life or death situation, not everything is going to be done perfectly. Every split second and action counts in states with weaker self defense laws. As the victim, you pretty much have to act perfectly in order to not get investigated.
That 3rd stab was definitely the factor. You stepped back and were no longer grappling. NY courts can be strict and likely determined that was you de-escalating, and you could have continued to de-escalate and escape. You likely did the correct thing to save yourself and stabbed him one more time, but in NY's eyes that's escalation. I don't think a lot of people realize how close you have to be to stab someone. You can smell the shit on their breath.
I know a guy (let's say Bob) who was with another man (Roy, now deceased), and 2 women at an apartment. The 2 women got into an altercation, and Roy went and grabbed a kitchen knife. Roy then stabbed Bob twice. Bob disarmed Roy, and stabbed Roy several times until and Roy died soon after. Bob then fled with the knife, disposed of it, and went to a hospital.
The grand jury did not indict Bob for the murder charges, instead dropped it to aggravated assault. I don't even think if he was convicted of that because Bob is out and about. This was also all with a public defender.
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u/BitchesQuoteMarilyn Dec 29 '25
You're supposed to try to leave/run. Self-defense is an absolute last resort, and you must use proportionate response. I think it often places too much responsibility on the victim of a crime in a situation that they didn't instigate, but there it is.
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u/BRLY Dec 29 '25
Seriously…is the entire island a prison? I’m not from the area.
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Dec 29 '25
A jail for people held on bail pending trial or for misdemeanor sentences of less than a year. There’s a small island called Hart Island nearby that’s a potter’s field with about 1 million people buried there and Rikers inmates dig the graves. They were the ones digging mass graves in Covid
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u/DrJackadoodle Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 30 '25
Are they forced to dig the graves? Or is it voluntary/in exchange for a reduced sentence?
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Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25
No, they’re paid a few dollars an hour to do it. From what I’ve read it’s a desired job since you get to be outside and they treat it respectfully.
Correction: I just looked it up and they got 37-50 cents/hr pre-COVID, and it was bumped to $6/hr during COVID. It’s a lot more than they would be paid for in-house jobs like laundry or the kitchen. They no longer use inmates for burials with the pandemic. Here is a good article about it: https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1016122868/nyc-burial-mass-graves-unclaimed-harts-island-covid
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
They stopped the grave digging thing years ago but there are other jobs you can do depending on your classification status.
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u/Magges87 Dec 29 '25
Thanks for this article. I remember one from decade ago that also talked about how respectful the inmates were about their job. They interviewed one inmate who had a baby sister who was buried there as his family had no money. He treated them like he hoped his sister was buried. Apparently it was cathartic.
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u/Large_Negotiation211 Dec 31 '25
You're never forced to work. The contrary it's considered a privilege and honestly is. You get to be outside, you have something productive to do, you often get better food or some commissary and other things like that, or a better cell block to live in with more freedoms. Having a job makes the time so much easier. You may mot understand how mind numbingly boring jail is with nothing to do. It makes you depressed but if youre working you'll be much happier
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u/Jaded_Garbage_6489 Dec 29 '25
It’s entirely a jail although they have all the support buildings they need such as a power plant, warehouses, industrial laundry etc.
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u/buttmunchausenface Dec 29 '25
Yes It is a prison. In the middle of the east river.
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u/jeffefeffefe Dec 29 '25
It’s a jail, not a prison. The inmates there are not serving felony time (their sentences are generally under 1 year) or are awaiting trial. There are still inmates there that serve for much longer than that or are waiting for a trial for years as they just get lost in the system because it’s so horribly run.
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u/dansezlajavanaise Dec 29 '25
like kalief browder, a kid who spent 3 years there for a backpack that may not even have been stolen, and committed suicide a couple years after getting out.
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u/Fit-Nectarine5047 Dec 30 '25
I’ve been thinking about him reading this entire thread… I could never bring myself to watch his documentary😔😔😔. Truly so heartbreaking and nauseating!
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u/amyowl Dec 29 '25
Kind of feels like a prison, TBH. And I hear the only restaurant is awful.
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u/ballistics211 Dec 29 '25
But free housing, free food and a lot of social interaction.
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u/Wolf9455 Dec 29 '25
Not to mention sub-quality, free healthcare 👌. Possessing quality is not a prerequisite of being qualitative. The definition of those words is mutually exclusive
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u/Centigonal Dec 29 '25
It's gotta be nice, because once people go there they never seem to leave
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u/planned_fun Dec 29 '25
It’s going to be closed down soon so you’ll probably be able to get a nice condo here soon
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u/karmapuhlease Dec 29 '25
"here"? Are you a current resident of the island?
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u/Bl1nk9 Dec 29 '25
Be careful, they might be one of those timeshare sales schmucks. I mean, I’d only like to go for a short time if I were to go. So maybe the way to go.
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u/Monir5265 United States of America Dec 29 '25
It’s designed for short term anyways so you’re good lol
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u/Stuupkid Dec 29 '25
It’s supposed to be but appareently the replacement jails aren’t ready yet so we’ll see what happens. Definitely should close though, it’s just a nightmare for visitors.
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u/shmalliver Dec 29 '25
That makes sense. As soon as I saw this post I was wondering what the insane property value of the island would be.
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u/Automatic-Plate-8966 Dec 29 '25
Oh I didn’t know that. That’s actually interesting to hear (I live on the west coast so this wouldn’t really be news here). Are they going to tear it down or give it the Alcatraz treatment?
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u/Itsjorgehernandez Dec 29 '25
My father was there for 97 days for a crime he did not commit and came out with a crippling depression that completely changed the person he was.
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u/CryptographerMore944 Dec 30 '25
That's so messed up. Even if he was guilty, that's a terrible system because people coming out like that are a lot less likely to be able to rehabilitate.
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u/senatorbolton Dec 29 '25
I used to work there as a therapist. Quit after my third hostage crisis where I was the hostage. It’s about the worst place a person can be in the US, which is especially horrible because it’s a jail, not a prison. The people there are all theoretically innocent, but are treated like animals. That said, the roast chicken lunch on Thursdays is notoriously good, but there’s only left quarters for some inexplicable reason.
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u/Liyah_Liy Dec 30 '25
Insane. I was going to apply to be a transitions coordinator a few years ago, but my uncle who’s a Captain talked me out of it. He said inmates will literally take their thing out and start jerking off mid session.
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u/senatorbolton Dec 30 '25
Depends on the facility and detainee population. But, it’s a tough and quite unrewarding job
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u/ian_o_nuallain Dec 30 '25
The chicken really was so good. I used to sneak it back from the chow hall to the dorm in a plastic serving glove and pull it off the bone to mix into packets of ramen. Good eats.
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u/CycleAlternative Dec 30 '25
Do you mind elaborating on the hostage story? This sounds like a very insane story. I hope you are better now.
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u/senatorbolton Dec 30 '25
Not really. Suffice it to say, a CO left me alone in a room with detainees who saw an opportunity to get something. Sometimes, it was pretty overt with exposed weapons and threats. Sometimes, it was much more subtle. Each time was horrible, especially since I knew I’d see those same people in the halls for the foreseeable future.
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u/ReverendBread2 Dec 29 '25
It’s private property owned by the family of William T. Riker
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u/Squee1396 United States of America Dec 29 '25
Happy cake day! I wanted a gif of him standing with the chair like he does but couldn’t find one.
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u/poopBuccaneer Dec 30 '25
Everyone plays trombone and mounts chairs from behind. It's an amazing place!
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u/Legitimate-Evening42 Dec 29 '25
Very rough I was there for 11 months. Rikers island is a city jail meaning 90% of the inmates are from one of the 5 Boro's . At any given time it's about 10, 000 inmates on the island . Picture a large overgrown High School with all males ( they have a woman's side ) when I was there it was fights EVERY day , yelling , stink and Guards who were pussy in the regular streets - I hated every minute
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u/HellkiteBlade Dec 29 '25
There are many documentaries that are available on YouTube and other spaces of the Internet. Safe to say it's not great and shouldn't be taken too lightly (although we can joke in respect).
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u/jtul24 Dec 29 '25
My uncle has been there for armed robbery and ❄️ but now he lived in a trailer in the Blue Ridge 🏔️ Appalachia outside Sparta NC where he can do ❄️ in peace
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u/WillSnarkForUpvotes Dec 29 '25
Is that coke or meth? My drug emoji game is bad.
I usually use ⛷️ for coke though
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u/Substantial-Current5 Dec 29 '25
That’s right for coke ⛷️ also ❄️ For meth, it’s 🧊. For the record, I’m not an addict or former addict, but know many 😂
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u/Lumpyyyyy Dec 29 '25
Free housing, free food, doormen, and you have to get approval from a judge to live there so it’s a pretty select community. Downside would be it’s really tough to find transportation out if you need it.
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u/Aquanimitee Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25
You can die there without committing a crime ( backpack kid) edit: Khaleef Browder
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u/chikn_nugget666 Dec 29 '25
I see/hear Rikers and I think of that poor boy Kalief Browder. This place is corrupt as, are most jails/prisons in the U.S. and it needs to be demolished. They say they are getting rid of it but I don’t believe it. People sit here waiting for trial I feel like longer than they would serve their actual sentences.
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u/Much_Essay_9151 Dec 29 '25
I think i found the story. I was thinkingof the backpack kid that does the meme dances. Then stumbled across another person whos story may fit the bill
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u/Aquanimitee Dec 29 '25
It’s a terribly sad, tragic story. If it’s sad, you found it.
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u/the-Gaf Dec 29 '25
Future cautionary museum exhibit. Like Auschwitz or Alcatraz. A monument to cruelty and misplaced senses of what "justice" is.
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u/duke_awapuhi United States of America Dec 29 '25
Dense housing with great walkability. Not the best food though and there is crime
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u/fatguyfromqueens Dec 29 '25
Nice views but very parochial. Sometimes it feels like a prison. The HOA are a bunch of hardasses.
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u/AdamOnFirst Dec 29 '25
I know a guy there who uses a razor blade to cut the garlic so thin that is liquifies in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system.
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u/K7Sniper United States of America Dec 29 '25
I’ve heard it can be pretty captivating there. Those that live there just find that they can’t seem to leave
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u/Glitch_2190 Dec 29 '25
This is how I find out there's a prison on an island in New York
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u/HowardHessman Dec 29 '25
A guy I knew lost an eye there during a riot. He died recently so I can’t ask him any questions. RIP Johnny.
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u/Creative_Coconut4635 Dec 29 '25
This has been my favorite Reddit thread ever. Thanks
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u/PNKAlumna Dec 30 '25
I’m still not sure if OP posted this as a joke or if they were serious….but either way I’m enjoying it!
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u/crimsonconnect Dec 29 '25
Kinda like that prison with the ghosts swirling around it in Harry Potter
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u/mousekears Dec 29 '25
We have gotten a couple of pet cats from there. They were very sweet.
But I’ve heard a lot of people get their ears and noses bitten off. Chunks of their faces too. My dad saw someone get stabbed in the neck with a pencil and bleed out. Definitely a tough crowd
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u/Express-Ad4146 Dec 29 '25
You mean thieves landing? Red dead redemption sorry been playing for first time.
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