New York's Most Disturbing Island | The History of Rikers Jail

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Welcome to our deep dive into the history of Rikers Island, the notorious jail complex located in New York City. In this video, we'll explore the origins of Rikers Island as a jail, and how it grew from a small facility into the massive, overcrowded complex it is today.
We'll examine the dark side of Rikers Island, including the burning problem of trash heap fires, the infestation of rats, and the devastating impact the jail has had on the surrounding communities, particularly Queens.
We'll also highlight some of the heroic acts that have taken place on Rikers Island, including the incredible story of inmates who saved plane crash victims.
Throughout the video, we'll delve into the complex issues of overpopulation, prison reform, and the impact of the criminal justice system on communities of color.
Join us for a fascinating and informative journey through the history of Rikers Island. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more videos like this one.
Chapters:
00:53 - The Origin of Rikers Island as a Jail
03:45 - Rikers Island’s First Jail: A Look Back in Time
03:58 - From Garbage to Jail: How Rikers Island Expanded
04:36 - The Burning Problem of Trash Heap Fires on Rikers Island
05:23 - Rikers Rat Infestation: The Dark Side of the Island
06:51 - A Heroic Act: Inmates Saving Plane Crash Victims on Rikers Island
08:44 - Overpopulation Crisis: Rikers Island in the 1970s
10:37 - The Worst Decade: Rikers Island Jail in the 1980s
12:27 - Jail on Water: The Story of New York’s Jail Boat
13:22 - The Devastating Impact of Rikers Island on Queens
14:28 - Exploring Rikers Island: What Remains Today
16:10 - Uncovering the Truth: Why Rikers Island is Considered the Worst Jail in America
IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.
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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Ryan Socash,
Editor - Oliwia Tracz,
Host - Ryan Socash
» SOURCES
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» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[@scholar5]

I was an officer at Rikers island. It’s “the blind leading the blind” when it comes to staff… so it’s not uncommon to have to fight for your job and not the inmate. The inmate would raise hell for a good officer… Rikers island was fun for me to work at because I enjoyed talking with the different walks of life and I’d encourage them to be better. I’d love to answer more questions if you have any

[@FallenAngel53]

Oh I meant to say Thankyou for putting that you’re happy to answer any questions. That’s fantastic as I’m in England 🇬🇧 and I’m hearing it from the horses mouth 😎

[@cokesquirrel]

Can you explain about fight for your job? Do you mean actual fighting with other staff? Thanks

[@nickparks32]

What’s the funniest story you heard from one of the inmates? I imagine some of the guys locked up in there had to have a decent sense of humour

[@Dad-979]

Same here

[@taylorg8509]

How often would they drug test you yearly ?

[@newt21]

I spent 3 years in Rikers but it felt like 30 years. You can’t fathom what goes on in there

[@annabellesnightmares]

Life choices, not feeling sorry.

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Tell us all about it?

[@chinesevirus-ix3yr]

​@@annabellesnightmares Lil Addy was right about the kites

[@silver-berry]

I can't imagine the strength to took to get through that. I hope life is improved, and continues that way.

[@DP-gv8dm]

@@annabellesnightmares no it’s not lol, rikers is a holding jail not an actual one, which means people end up there before their sentencing, they’re suppose to stay max 1 year but clearly that doesn’t happen, the people that end up there still need to be sentenced, and last time I checked, it’s innocent until proven guilty so ALL the people there are innocent, and also u can end up in jail awaiting trial for the dumbest thing , like a car crash, or u got into a fight with a neighbour, stuff that isn’t even “criminal” and doesn’t make u a criminal, so don’t say “life choices” when a big percentage of the people there didn’t even commit a crime and are just awaiting trial to be released, u could end up there and u wouldn’t even expect it lol

[@voltrc]

I worked there in the 90"s, This Island is aprox. 60% landfill of Garbage and coal ash from the 20's. You can still smell the stench coming out of the ground. There were aprox. 200 Generators serving all the buildings until the utility company brought power to the Island in the late 90"s. I also witnessed the maintenance of oil change right into the ground and leaking into the east river. They had a large lot storing aprox. 200 - 50 gallon drums of Generator waste oil which was also leaking into the ground from the barrels being rusted. There was so much oil leaking that it formed a pond where Seagulls and ducks would die in it. I was told from a correction officer they would never allow a Federal agency unto this Island because they would shut it down. I feel sorry for the people who work there under those conditions. We will find out one day that this place will be a Number one Hazmat site. I can't imagine how many correction officers and inmates contracted cancer from this Hell hole. There are rumors of closing down this prison and opening up a Casino, Residence or expanding La Guardia airport. It would take 25 years to decontaminate the ground to make it habitable.

[@Motorsportqueen]

I am from the other side of the world. Rikers is mentioned constantly in any US cop show, so its nice to understand its history.

[@CJDfromJTF]

I worked in Astoria for several years and would see prison guards in the neighborhood stores at lunch time... They for the most part are among the most miserable people I ever encountered in life... I often said to myself that there might be little difference between them and the people they are getting paid to guard.

[@willrush1962]

There’s a book titled “ the other islands of New York City “ a lot of interesting history on these little unknown islands

[@josepoika5388]

❤❤❤YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR DEATH IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, AND TRUST IN HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, BECAUSE HE ATONED FOR YOU FOR ALL YOUR INSULTS, THAT YOU WOULD OBTAIN PEACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, AND GO TO HEAVEN BY HIS GRACE!!!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤!!!❤❤❤

[@Knuckledragon782]

Survived 6 trips through 'The Island' while awaiting courts in the 80s and 90s. The inmates call the bridge leading to the island "The Bridge of Tears", because most 1st timers will inevitably start tearing up on it. 😭 A psychological criminal deterrent just by existing.

[@stevenhoffman6187]

I've been on Rikers Island. As part of the construction of the Singer Nursery Beacon facility. (that's what they called it). To get on the island you must pass a security check on the Long Island City side of the bridge. Your car is checked and then you are allowed. If there is a problem while you are on the island you are also locked down until it is cleared. (On time a sagent left his keys in his car and some inmates took a ride) The jobsite was closed for almost a year when someone threw a cigarette butt in a drain and it caught fire from the methane gas created from rotting garbage. A few days before election day I believe it was mayor Kotch had grass sod planted on one side so he could do a press conference outside the "new" jail he just opened to keep the citizens safe. (It was still at least a year from completion. Lots; more stories but not enough time to tell.

[@allenschmitz9644]

Krotch rot island.

[@dennisyoung4631]

I get this place confused with the nearby facility named “the Tombs.”

[@whyyoulying6316]

The inmate run the jail now

[@antares3097]

​@@dennisyoung4631the tombs is in Manhattan (NYC)

[@joejohnson2478]

​@@dennisyoung4631The facility is actually RMSC which stands for Rose M Singer not nursery.

[@fortress1133]

Modern day Alcatraz. I live on Long Island and have flown into LaGuardia 100 times and never knew. And yes I'd love to hear history on the many islands surrounding Long Island. Fisher's island is very interesting.

[@everythingautomotiveeta5839]

Same

[@zephyer-gp1ju]

In comparison, Alcatraz was petty nice. It was Federal and each prisoner had his own cell and the food was supposed to be very good.

[@yell0wberry]

I sure can’t wait for the story about Plum Island

[@user-cv8qe9ru8c]

​@zephyer-gp1ju the food was good?

[@susanholbrook4185]

Never knew this story The things and stories that are hidden.

[@TheRealKendrick]

9000 employees and 10000 inmates? That’s a better service ratio than any luxury cruise or hotel.

[@JaffaGaffa]

Hm. They perhaps don´t work 24/7? And for saftey they are perhaps many..... Geez

[@David-nx2vm]

Every 24-hour position like guard, CCTV or alarm monitor requires four people to account for shift coverage and days off. In addition, many of those employees never see prisoners, like warehouse, utility plant, IT, administrative. I’m only guessing here, but it would not surprise me if there are fewer than 1000 people actually working on site during normal working hours with fewer than that on weekends and midnight shifts.

[@passat24666]

That 9000 is all of Corrections not just Rikers but the boro jails, courts,Hospitals plus the range and Heart Island...

[@jomama5186]

Even better than the day care standards!

[@eileenmaher2101]

@@David-nx2vm count on the Island and the Boat, hospitals and the supposed weekend warrior individuals who are Incarcerated has been steady at 5300 to 5900. Minus the detainee they manage to murder every few weeks. The 10000 number is incorrect. I work in advocacy and ending mass incarceration as well as closing Rikers. I spent over 420 days on the Island myself, at Rosie's. I am a woman who is a survivor of d.v. for which I was criminalized for. Anyway. I check the count at least once a day if not more. As for 9000 officers. Yes many of them never ever see a detainee. They work the GEO room or other admin positions. Oh and then there are the chronic and perpetual absences . For the past three years DOC and their Union, COBA have been purposely absenting themselves from work continuously. Under the Taylor Laws in NYC they technically can't strike. So this is how they strike. Units and cell blocks have been left without officers for sometimes two to three shifts in a row. Hence the detainees being left in their cells locked in for eons. Which is a big chunk of the pie when looking at all the detainee deaths over the past year. And longer. Then there were the officers that sat and watched a detainee slit his own throat and bleed out. A Captain or Dep and 2 officers. They laughed while he did it. Things like that are just part of the every day environment there.

[@knicks01]

Having a drug addiction in my younger years and living in NYC all my life has brought me to the island many times. From HDM in the 90s to c-74 and c-76 I have been in most buildings there. It changes with the mayor and politics have always played a big role in funding and overall state of the island. I can tell stories about that place for hours and the things I saw. It is a violent place where you can get stabbed over TV or a pillow. I have seen people ha e seizures and if other inmates didn't help the person would of died because officers have poor training and no desire to help the " skels" as inmates are called at times

[@mr.zesozadfrack7790]

C-76 Spirit of '76! 💯

[@lickalotlickalot2210]

It's a different Rikers now. Inmates run the jail, there's lack of officers and officers while have poor training they were not animals like some of you guys. They just can't help due to stupid lawsuits filed by each and everyone of you guys! The minute an officer helped he involved himself and he would be named and the outcome didn't matter. Someone gets hurt and the officer would be in trouble!

[@jaydewitte2958]

They are trying to teach the animals that it's survival of the fittest! I wouldn't help these animals either! Burden on society, and we shouldn't have to feed and house them. I say we wall up, Ney Jersey, put you all there and televise the outcome. Have plexiglass viewing areas so the public can pay to watch. Every Sunday, put two of you in the stadium and relive the Roman times! Makes much more sense!

[@jaydewitte2958]

​@mr.zesozadfrack7790 he has no idea what Spirt of 76 is!

[@SLYCKRYK]

I'm sure u still a skel today

[@MONET8iAM]

My dad retired a few years ago. I’m grateful that he came out after 20 years with a peace of mind, I honestly don’t know how he did it because he’s so chill. Well actually, he did under ten years there and later transferred to Brooklyn. However he’s heard horror stories over the years since, and it’s gotten so much worse there. That place is s sh*t show.

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

I own a gun business with a Title I FFL, and one of our 1921A Colt Thompsons is from Rikers, and it has the armory tag on the stock. It also has some very small splotches of the bluing damaged. Allegedly, it was from a night when they anticipated a prison break in the 1930s, and they had officers hiding in the surf with Thompsons. I wrote one of the guards to ask him about it, and he said it was probably around 1938 or 39. It is a pretty low serial number, so that was my guess as well. Colt sold a block of 25 of them to Rikers sometime in the early 30s, I believe. Attica Prison also bought several from them and I have one of those as well. What's interesting is the Attica Thompson is much nicer, while the Rikers looks like it saw a fair amount of use.

[@Octavia680]

One name comes to mind when I hear Rikers Island: Kalief Browder 😢

[@TheFROSTER420]

I had never heard of his case, just awful.

[@Octavia680]

@@TheFROSTER420 Heartbreaking 💔

[@sharonrigs7999]

Sid Vicious

[@joanneschneller7130]

Rikers Island housed male adult detention inmates who could not afford bail and those who were sentences to 1 year or less. Those inmates who were sentenced were transferred to the NY state detention prison system. There were so many detention inmates (over 25,000) that the City of N Y. had the bibby barges made for the overflow to try to prevent injuries. There was no differentiation between jail and prison. Every jail is a prison. The terminology changes by the sentence, age, persuasion, gender. I worked there for over 24 years. Violence began when the gangs were incarcerated in groups. Then one gang fought with another gang. Alarms happened every day back then.

[@gaylordmswagger2523]

Mi papa es homosexualle

[@joejohnson2478]

​@@gaylordmswagger2523You must be very proud of him!

[@tiamarrow6366]

My dad actually worked as a Rikers Correctional Officer from before I was born in 1999, up until we I started middle school (I’m 23 years old currently) Rikers taught him to be tough and not to take shit from anyone.

[@billyjansen7690]

Nah n frizuck ya pops bruh

[@billyjansen7690]

Bitchhhhh made

[@xxxbrooklyn]

I was a co on rikers 1989 an inmate who wanted to hog the phone was lured into the day room where another inmate poured boiling water mixed with baby oil over his head a gruesome sight forever embedded in my mind.

[@bigboy4438]

They napalmed him, I saw that upstate, not a pretty sight for sure.

[@liamthompson9342]

Robert De Niro's character in Heat was ready to die rather than go back to Riker's. I didn't understand the significance at the time but I'm beginning to see why.

[@JohnKing-fy9zi]

Heat was filmed in CALIFORNIA

[@steviechampagne]

@@JohnKing-fy9ziso was Seinfeld. what’s your point?

[@allenschmitz9644]

locals know.

[@liamthompson9342]

@@JohnKing-fy9zi I infer you mean McCauley didn't go to Riker's. Well I just re-watched the whole movie and you're right. Riker's wasn't mentioned at all.

[@Alex_A7]

He was in Folsom.

[@TonysMusic1974]

Rikers is NOT a "prison," (as you mentioned a few times). Is is a Jail. There is a difference. Everyone there is either waiting to be tried and sentenced or have only been sentenced to "county time," which can not exceed two years. Anything more than that would be "State time" and they would be sent to an upstate correctional facility - i.e. PRISON.

[@bxnyc8298]

All facts except in NYC city time is 1 year, anything over a year is statetime

[@TonysMusic1974]

@BX NYC you can get back to back bullets (i.e. consecutive one year sentences) and stay county time. You do 16 months out of the 24.

[@bxnyc8298]

Also a fact👍🏻👍🏻

[@divinedelaware7541]

I personally know guys who were on the island 5 years waiting for trial on state beefs and it is part of the D.O.C

[@bxnyc8298]

@Divine Delaware you could be on the Island for years waiting on trial, we talking about people who are sentenced already, good look on you feedback tho

[@DedmenY]

My father retired as a captain from there back in ‘99. Some of the stories he had were pretty brutal. I saw some of the photos he brought back from work as a kid too. I wish I hadn’t seen them. Lol

[@billyjansen7690]

And ..like what does that do for anybody

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

A captain told me when I was on probation C O, “If they don’t fear us, they will kill each other, for the good order of the institution…” Retired 20 years later

[@scottusa03]

How’s your father doing now?

[@ccsd0601]

Could you make a video on the Cook County Jail in Chicago, IL? It's the largest single site facility in the nation.

[@thomaspowers5845]

I bet it worse than Riker's island.

[@AdventureNYC]

@@thomaspowers5845 hell na

[@rafaelshaffer7618]

RIKERS IS WORSE FACTS

[@monte129]

I did a bit in CCJ . Yes sir. Got hooked up drinking on the EL. I was out in 45 minutes after paying a fine. I did that time standing up. Yo.

[@METALFACEDOOMXXXX]

​@@thomaspowers5845 you obviously know nothing about rikers! Its the worst jail in the nation you ever heard of razor tag???

[@flower_bomb426]

Hey im from brooklyn nyc and i actually did a year in rikers island back in 2004-2005 i gave me to my oldest daughter there so i got to actually experience going from going from a out of lesson (under 18) to the pregnant building (7) to actually getting in the nursery when i gave birth in there … one of the most humbling experiences of my life… HEY OFFICER CEO WASHINGTON FROM OUT OF LESSONS I LOVE U THANK U FOR BEING A AUNTY TO US AND TREATING US GOOD 🥰

[@Irishprince919]

I was a resident for close to a year and half. You know it's hell when someone says they are happy to be going upstate.

[@jrcenteno1896]

😂 I get it, trust me! I've been there too! Check me recent comment. Be safe! ✌️

[@donaldphee1651]

I worked at LGA for a food vendor catering to airlines and spent many a night waiting for jets to arrive overlooking the island. I also drove for a medical transportation company and have been on the island usually bringing workers over but I never got to drive around as they have strict protocols regarding visitors. I found your video very informative about the history and development of Riker's Island. It's funny to stumble across this as I was reading about a brand new prison in El Salvador that holds forty thousand inmates no doubt financed in part by the US.

[@WakandaleezaRazz]

El Salvador’s homicide rate supposedly dropped something like 80 percent because of it. Their new president isn’t playing. Thanks for sharing your story about Rikers I lived in Newark and always was so curious

[@chicagocary2837]

In the 80's I was a contractor for NYC Department of Corrections for their communication systems. Riker's Island always had problems so I was there often and I really didn't have an opinion of it as I was around 25 years old. You had to wait for your appointment to be confirmed before you could cross the bridge. And the guards checked my car when I left. Once they didn't get the trunk latched and as I proceeded across the bridge the trunk popped open. By the time I stopped and got out to close it guards from both directions closed in on me guns drawn. They thought a prisoner hid in the trunk and jumped out into the water. But the airplanes from LGA were deafening. Every couple of minutes you had to stop talking because nobody could hear you. Personally I would have gone nuts.

[@h.d.h]

​@@WakandaleezaRazzYeah, the suspension of human rights is pretty stark for any observer. Crime there is an issue, but the government committing and sanctioning the same crimes is worse.

[@YoungHeartedSoul]

Yeah we need a president everywhere like in El Salvador! He gets criticized by human rights but if you harm citizens, then you should have your rights taken away.

[@joejohnson2478]

​@@WakandaleezaRazzThis country is not happy with those results either because their excuse for allowing those people here because of the high crime isn't viable anymore.

[@macro16]

I used to live in the neighborhood where the bridge was. It was a good neighborhood, never had any trouble, but sometimes I would have to take the bus that was going onward to Rikers. Some shady characters on the bus.

[@yell0wberry]

Are used to play baseball in the Pok of the neighborhood by the bridge to the facility, I think they call it Elmjack field. It was never a great place to play at because the ground was very marshy.

[@macro16]

@@yell0wberry Yes. It was Elmjack. There was one or two good fields then they had a bunch of fields in the back that were crappy.

[@luisangeldrosnegron3445]

New to this channel. I've found it very informative and interesting. I learned a few things I'm glad I learned though it wasn't about the jail. It was the former names of la Guardia airport and now Roosevelt island. Thank you for this channel, now a subscriber.

[@billyjansen7690]

Say it don't type I

[@leonardregolizio3703]

I was a officer at Rikers in 1972. At the NYC Correction Institute for men. A Captain in 1988 then Assistant Deputy Warden IN 1991. Retired from the Manhattan House of Detention and Courts in 1993.

[@ParanormalHoodLiveRadio]

So you was part of the problems then.

[@Hborn]

Can you smoke cigarettes in there

[@ranjitverdi5702]

Yeah Yeah Yeah what ever

[@ChiTownClown17]

Sure u did

[@YoungHeartedSoul]

Ok cool but tell us some crazy stories

[@georgemurphy2579]

Very informative! Thanks for this, and in anticipation of future historical videos about NYC.

[@rickyparrilla2426]

A video on heart island will be great. Many people don't realize heart island is Potters Field and Potters Field is literally right across from Orchard Beach. Which is the same waters that surround Rickers Island and Laguardia airport. Those waters are filthy and some of the bodies that have been buried on heart island those that were buried by the edges of the island are falling into the water since the edges of the island are just dirt. Many people do not know this and insist on taking their kids to Orchard Beach during the summer. That Beach should be closed down until Heart island is properly fixed..

[@ml48963]

*Hart Island

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

That’s terrible!

[@JoseFlores-mh4oo]

Back in eighty nine , I was a inmate working on harts island and the one thing I remember was unburying bodies cause there families claimed it. We didn't have a commissary to buy our snacks and cigarettes so they fed us very well and everytime we worked with the bodies they would give us cigarettes and other stuff. Very sad, I'm 53 and suffer from p.t.s.d. cause of my stints at rikers. No human being should put there self through the suffering that goes on in that dark place.

[@rickyparrilla2426]

​@JoseFlores-mh4oo I did some time on Rikers, too. Thank God I never ran into any problems but that place needs to be closed down. As much money they get for each inmate there is no reason why that place should be in the condition it is in. What use to piss me off was when I use to see officers eating the food that was meant to be for the inmates. The correction officers made good money more than a nypd officer and their they were stealing and eating food for the inmates.

[@rickyparrilla2426]

​​@@kellyshomemadekitchen Yes it is disgusting. During the summers the waters surrounding Rikers literally start to smell of rotten eggs because the water is so polluted and not far from there is a public beach called Orchard beach which use those same waters. Why people go there I have no idea. I have been there even before knowing any of this and something just grossed me out about that water. It literally barely moves as there are small waves on every beach. On that beach there are no waves. I have seen this with my own eyes.

[@billy1673]

A buddy of mine was a guard there for five years before getting on Suffolk County (LI) PD. He said the only difference between him and the inmates was he got a paycheck every two weeks. He felt like he was doing time just as much as the cons. They had mandatory forced OT which meant if your relief didn’t show up for his shift, you had to stay to cover it. Yeah, he made bank during those times, but he hated it there. He said most of his coworkers were nothing more than perps with badges.

[@anthonysmalawipredators8794]

And now he makes 100k+ a year

[@joejohnson2478]

​@@anthonysmalawipredators8794Glad he got out!

[@PJSnow23]

Can you do a history video on John Jacob Astor’s estate up in rhinebeck NY? I know he had a large estate up there on the Hudson River with a casino and miniature railroad. Apparently Nicola Tesla also did some research on the property

[@ronaldweaver6791]

Do one on Hart Island and then one on North Brothers Island which is near Rikers Island. 🤔 Something for you to consider

[@KiNGRaZoR316]

My stepson went to Rikers in June of 2019. He complained about the treatment some of the inmates went through pertaining to the CO's AND fellow inmates violating them. Luckily, if you're with a gang, you'll get some leverage in the form of protection, but, he preferred the prisons upstate over Rikers.

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

I was at Rikers Island. They tore my behind wide open.

[@FerociousPancake888]

Condolences

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

@@FerociousPancake888 I forgot about this comment 😂 yoooo 😂

[@susanholbrook4185]

Not right.

[@jrcenteno1896]

​@@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS Whaddya mean?! Did they RAPE you? 😮

[@nyclady27]

My dad served on Rikers in 1935. He only served two weeks and spent one month in the Tombs, but in 1934 spent six months in Sing Sing! All new news to me, his daughter! 👀🗽🍎👩🏼‍🦼⚖☮🌹🚀🎼🎥🍿🥤

[@yell0wberry]

From what’s being reported, this entire facility is supposed to completely close down before 2030 while allocating the current inmate population to other jails around the five boroughs, including the fresh kills downstate facility in Staten Island. with land being at a premium in NYC, I am willing to bet 100 to one that major real estate investors buy this land and turn it into super luxury condos, along with resorts and other places of activities for the very wealthy.

[@DMETS519]

I think its interesting how Riker's island was originally considered as part of Long Island City in Queens county. And logic would dictate and make sense to that because today its connected to Queens via a bridge. But at least in some capacity today it is geographically considered as part of The Bronx. I remember in the 1990's while working in the 41 pct in the south Bronx correction officers would come into the precinct to process prisoners in the station house who were rearrested while at Rikers. I guess at least as far as the city is concerned Rikers island is part of the 41 pct.

[@donaldprophete5005]

this is awesome. I'm from Queens, NY. I know people who've been locked up in Rikers. I love to research the city. Thank you.

[@Singerboymeljamaicaqueens]

More great info thanks as a person who lived grew up in nyc u learn something new everyday 💪🏾🗽👨🏾‍💻

[@joewlaschin6970]

Great video.Please make the hart island video.I have never heart of it (as I live in Minnesota)But I love nothing more than to learn about new and interesting topics especially from your channel.And the topic/history of Hart Island sounds well crazy (pun intended).Thanks for another great video

[@this51man]

Hart Island (no e in it lol) is basically the city's Potters Field. Anyone who can't afford a burial, unclaimed bodies, and homeless/destitute people are buried there. Think of it as a legal mass burial site

[@JenevieveDeFer]

@@this51man It's where the city buried the unclaimed bodies of those who died in the early days of the COVID 19 pandemic. To make it worse, they used prisoners to dig the graves and inter the bodies. Without any safety equipment.

[@biscayne66]

Was held there for 10 days in 1973 on a false charge awaiting court. I was 17 and scared to death. No one really bothered me because I had friends in there to watch my back. In the end I was exonerated of the charges. The experience changed my life. Been on the straight & narrow ever since. Scared straight!

[@johnnymula2305]

I grew up in City Island. Which is right next to Heart Island.

[@TonysMusic1974]

1:02 you said the "bronx's east river," but RIkers is techinically in East Elmhurst Queens

[@LostSoulsouthere]

I spent a week in rikers it felt like a year I never thought that this would be going on in America what I seen and experienced there

[@Irishgangland]

I've been to Rikers about 7 or 8 times. Even had some dental work done there. Never stayed longer than 4 months.

[@jn8601]

Heart island video yes please. I grew up on city Island and heard countless stories about the island

[@natashaholiday7298]

I been there alot of times visiting people you need a lot of patience when you go up there.

[@julesonfoot9273]

Wow, great video! I’ve lived in NYC for over 30 years and am today old when I learned about Rykers. So interesting! I only knew where it is and that it’s a prison. I definitely will check out more of your NYC videos. Cheers!

[@rodprops]

I've lived in NYC for over 46 years, but have never been on that island.

[@iamwill89]

You should do one on LA county jail or Cook County jail.

[@YoungHeartedSoul]

Love your videos. Did you research if anyone has managed to escape throughout the prisons history?

[@jamesmccullers9916]

Of course they have a few people done it some one did it when I was in hdm the guy was a state inmate so he came back down to court I don't know how he got a job in the first place he was working in the mess hall one day sanitation truck came and he left with the trash yes inside the back of the truck with that nasty smelly ass trash

[@YoungHeartedSoul]

@@jamesmccullers9916 wow crazy! Was this in the news? Any name? Imagine the driver or helper would’ve activated the compacter in the back

[@jamesmccullers9916]

@@YoungHeartedSoul of course it was

[@jamesmccullers9916]

@@YoungHeartedSoul it wasn't the first time it was done like that either if your gonna escape from that island it's one of the only ways to do it or swim and that's kamikaze because it's suicidal

[@YoungHeartedSoul]

@@jamesmccullers9916 how is that bay? I mean I live in NYC but never researched the waters there. Is it deep? Currents?

[@michaelplunkett8059]

And Rikers is part of Bronx County, even though only connected to Queens.

[@9.teen.87]

It cost $500 - $1200 to house a single inmate a day let that sink in.

[@ConnorHolbrook419]

Jacob Astor owned the Astoria hotel and his cousin and arch rival owned the Waldorf (his last name) they ended up combining them to make the Waldorf Astoria. Jacob died on the Titanic actually

[@thisperson2963]

Well I live near Rikers and I’ve seen hart island countless times you should also consider doing stories on North and South brother Island

[@williamhoward1268]

What's alarming is Chicago has a 1/3 of the population but 9k inmates

[@woodencoasterfan]

I believe one or two of those Staten Island Ferry’s are located in Panama City, FL near the paper mill there.

[@Hborn]

Bay county

[@SaltyFrosticles]

Making my way through your uploads, great channel!

[@jrcenteno1896]

I was at Rikers and Brooklyn House of D {in & out} from the early 80's to mid 90's. And I, unfortunately, made it Up State too! I'm not one bit proud of it either! I wasted my youth in all those different houses at Rikers. I've been in every one of them buildings except the Barge. C-95, C-76, C-74, and HDM. I'm probably forgetting one or two others. I was at Brooklyn House when Fat Cat rolled in. I was in the Hole with Pappy Mason. And BTW, Brooklyn House was all single-cell. If anyone wants to know how it was for me back then, a street-wise Italian guy who understood how to carry himself in all these Jails, you can ask me and I WILL respond. ✌️

[@Crangaso]

Plenty of my boys spent time in Rikers & on the barge. Back in the day you didn't get off the boat unless you had more than 3 years. Love to see what happens to nYc after Rikers' is closed.

[@baliyae]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@xjaker91x]

I used to work on Rikers back in 2017. Oh, that place. I could write a book.

[@marksamuelsen2750]

As a Corporate Pilot for 35yrs. We used to call it Rikers Island Paradise inbound!

[@ChaneVazquez-rx2dy]

I did a year and eight months in 5 west high classifications. Then another 9 months in C76 Wich is where they put all the drug users. The food was awful so you have to buy commissary. Got a job as a suicide prevention aid. There's tons of drugs in all the buildings btw. The guards let you smoke weed all day. You spend most of your time watching shows and reading or exercise. Helps pass the time. Thank God I'm passed that stage of my life.

[@joseserrano721]

I went on a class trip to rikers. I remember them showing me 3 huge photo albums with inmates that were cut up. I’m talking about a lot of the cuts was 2 feet long all over there body’s. It was crazy how many photos they had

[@darger3]

Jesus. On a class trip!

[@zephyer-gp1ju]

What school takes kids on field trip to such a hell hole? This some sort of scared straight program?

[@yooper6161]

Class trip or Scared Straight?

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

@@zephyer-gp1ju hey, if it kept any of the kids from entering into a life of crime….just sayin

[@thomaspowers5845]

I took a class trip to Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment in 2nd grade. We learned a lot. Vice principal John Gacy led the tour and gave us expert advice on crawl spaces .

[@cleanbowled1767]

My Boy, a C.O. at Rikers, told me he ran across alot of his childhood buddies on the Island. He still had no problem executing his duties even as a Goon Squad member!!!

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

“Sometimes you have to do things you just don’t want to do” A Fact of Life.

[@Killerspieler0815]

this prison became a literal ConcentrationCamp for a wile

[@randalchristman1776]

I was a flatbed driver and had the pleasure of delivering at Rikers. Inmates yelling take me out of here almost being eaten by a dog. Yes it was interesting oh and the Big steel door's as you enter the perison.

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

Very informative video, retired NYC. Correction officer, Rikers 2002… “Thankless Job!” The best video on KZbin ,60 minutes, Rikers Island, 1992…

[@Dave-on5kx]

I left last month after doing 11 years , you should see how it’s now , complete shit show , triples everyday , imagine doing 3-11 11-7 and leaviing at 0930 everyday , just way too much going on

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

@@Dave-on5kx Brother, You have my respect , The job was different when I started back in 1982 … Please look up on KZbin the video 60 minutes Rikers Allen, 1992. I would like to hear your perspective. …. I wish you good luck and thank you for your honesty and service , we served a thankless job…

[@jtgd]

15:45 is crazy. Rikers seem like both a tiny and big island

[@bryancharlebois]

I was in Rikers for 3 years. we had movie nights, bowling, and good grub. there were always second helpings. I'd rather be free but it was a descent place. great music too!!!

[@ThaClipKeepah]

😂

[@angelahornung8488]

I feel like if the facility was invested in, it could be a great solution, but from the sounds of it little money or attention is given to correcting the island's issues and its been treated instead as a landfill for those the city considers undesirable. What a shame.

[@danielpowers6246]

I was in c-95 in 1981 then to the blocks after I got caught with weed in a shake down I got robbed with shanks for a couple of jailhouse joints then they guys said I have to f them up or I would become a punk I did but almost did they had to pull me off of him I was scared to death but now nobody f,d with me all the way upstate I went to singsing after I was sentenced for classification then up to the mountains

[@Madaboutmada]

I can think of 100 adjectives to describe Robert Moses (i.e., despicable, heartless, power-hungry, corrupt, manipulative, despotic, etc.). "Esteemed" is not one of them.

[@ant_life_4ever]

Until this video Law and Order was my only window into Rikers Island 😂

[@junowhos]

This one was awesome. Growing up in NY, this dump was notorious. Any chance you would do Ebbets Field or the Brooklyn Museum?

[@scrapperstacker8629]

I would love to hear about Heart Island. I’m already subscribed.

[@sharonadams3065]

I was an Officer on Rikers in 1982 until 2002. Back then they had the best Correction Officers male and female.

[@ivorwindybottom7364]

I'm in the U.K. Heard about Rikers, playing the Division. Good to learn about the place. Nice work.

[@jetsons101]

I support Law and Order, support the police but with that comes the responsibility of clean and safe prisons with educational facilities for anyone who chooses to use them. Also provide trade classes for welders, plumbers, steelworkers and so on.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Sounds European to me.

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

Recidivism is much lower when a prison rehabilitates their inmates, not just punish them.

[@GoatTheGoat]

Did you watch the video? Rikers is a jail not a prison.

[@cullenosbourn3304]

There is , it’s called the the Safe Prison act , and PREA Prison Rape Elimination Act enabled in 2003 .

[@denizyazici5290]

@@cullenosbourn3304 Even with PREA, people are still constantly involuntarily fucked (i.e. raped) in jail and prison according to many reports......The old saying "Don't drop the soap..." still is valid today.....

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great video!

[@Mrbeahz1]

As the old newspaper says, the original name of Welfare Island was Blackwell's Island.

[@MatthewCaban]

That's Roosevelt island

[@gottagift]

New Orleans parish prison and jail have a story to tell about Hurricane Katrina

[@robertlee3]

I spent the month of August of 1976 in jail in Lebanon Indiana, the Boone county lockup. I was 15 years old. I went in in July and got out in September. Rats? Hell no!

[@monica012077]

At best the water between Riker's Island and Laguardia Airport is 5 feet deep, and that's only a small section in the middle. It's mostly between 1 to 3 feet deep so it must look crossable during low tide.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

It seems like it would be easy to escape then sneak into Laguadia Airport. A crafty smart person could hide in a major US airport for weeks or months.

[@bcatblues725]

Your video was really interesting. I’d like to hear more about Ryker’s.

[@andrewft31]

The family who owns the island ended the lease with the city and gave it the LaGuardia airport which is why the city is building new jails.

[@TylerTheBassCreator]

Iron pyrite * Also known as "fools gold *

[@VideoDotGoogleDotCom]

Already subscribed, and for sure I upvoted this video, so I'll just leave a comment: Yes, I would very much like a video on Hart Island. As sad as the subject matter is, psychiatric institutions are fascinating, especially ones on an island. Thank you for providing quality videos.

[@B1900pilot]

The LGA VORTAC used to be located on Rikers Island until the mid-2000s.

[@duaneayers6117]

U should do a video of the Brand-new Mega Prison in El Salvador. It holds over 40 thousand prisoners.

[@mikapeltokorpi7671]

Dear passengers, we are landing at LaGuardia, New York, soon. Please fasten your seat belts. Those who are seater left side of the plane have excellent view to the famous Rikers Island while we are landing. In case your destination is New York, don't have too much fun to end up in jail - Rikers holds one of the city's jails. We wish you a pleasant stay in New York, and we hope to see you again very soon.

[@BreadLobby]

Lmao I was waiting for Roberts Moses's name to come up. It always does

[@Robert-fx1lr]

I was so disturbed I started listening to disturbed

[@pjny21]

'The Boat' (Vernon Bain Center) is a horrendous place, across the parking lot from the fish market, so the inmates and staff have to suffer that every day. And Rikers just isn't sustainable. There's certainly space near the Queens Criminal Court to build a place for inmates to await trial there but the bureaucracy will crush anything that is sanely proposed. I'm an attorney that had to visit inmates there a lot earlier in my career. We had to drive to an initial check-in trailer on the mainland and get a parking pass, drive over the bridge and find parking, go to the visitors center, get a bus pass, and then navigate bus routes to the particular facility, then see clients in literal closets. There would be a closet divided by jerry-rigged plexiglass and 2x4s as our 'Counsel' meeting room with our clients. There'd be an easy 20% chance of a lockdown while we were there. There were no real recreational facilities. You had to walk through the CO's closet that held the 'turtle shells' they used (riot gear) to get to the Counsel meeting room on the Boat. That was just as ridiculous.

[@morefiction3264]

I never realized as I was flying through La Guardia that Rykers Island was right there.

[@Yourmomcrib]

Awesome video and great information 👍

[@jamesmazurek2545]

It'd be awesome to see a video on "County" at 26th and California. Tons of history there.

[@jerrysinclair3771]

😝 Ryan, you asked if any of your viewers had any experience with Rikers Island...Well, does 23 years of "Law & Order" reruns count?😝

[@slypear]

Awesome Question of the Day!

[@TheFlaco090]

I was an officer from 2016 to 2021 and had many stories

[@salsheikh4508]

Love to see a Hart island video