Rikers Island, a 413-acre landfill situated in the East River, serves as New York City’s primary jail complex. Its notoriety precedes it, with a reputation as one of the worst correctional facilities in the United States. Inmates, ranging from those awaiting transfer to federal prisons to individuals serving short-term “City Time” sentences, endure deplorable conditions within its aging walls. The island, once a Civil War training ground, now offers a stark view of LaGuardia Airport and Citi Field, a jarring juxtaposition to the grim reality within its confines. Even high-profile figures like Harvey Weinstein, who served time at Rikers awaiting trial, have attested to the horrific environment, filing lawsuits alleging inhumane treatment. “City Time, On Being Sentenced to Rikers Island,” co-authored by former inmates David Campbell and Jarrod Shanahan, provides a chilling exposé of life within this infamous institution.
Campbell and Shanahan, both college-educated, offer firsthand accounts of the brutality and monotony that define daily life at Rikers. They describe the intake process as a degrading experience, involving filthy holding pens with overflowing toilets and a pervasive stench of bodily fluids and cleaning chemicals. New arrivals are subjected to humiliating strip searches, including a scan for internally concealed contraband, before being issued ill-fitting jumpsuits and Velcro shoes. They are then ushered into massive, open dormitories, likened to basketball courts, where cockroaches and correctional officers alike patrol the perimeter. The dormitories, housing hundreds of inmates in close proximity, are characterized by rusted iron beds, limited hygiene facilities, and a constant assault on privacy.
The authors paint a grim picture of the unsanitary conditions pervasive throughout Rikers. Meals are often inedible, contaminated by mold, roaches, and even decomposing rodents. Dry, tasteless bread, often bearing the teeth marks of mice, is a staple. The kitchen itself is infested with vermin, further contributing to the unsanitary food preparation. The lack of privacy extends to basic bodily functions, with inmates forced to cover themselves while using the toilet in full view of others. The constant presence of foul odors and grotesque sights contributes to a pervasive sense of degradation. Amidst this squalor, racial and ethnic tensions simmer, with gang members playing a role in maintaining a fragile peace within the dorms.
The inmate population at Rikers represents a cross-section of society’s marginalized, including professional shoplifters, drug dealers, violent offenders, and those convicted of petty crimes. Many are trapped in a cycle of poverty, substance abuse, and mental illness, seeking escape through drugs and resorting to theft to support their habits. The authors describe encountering inmates who stole necessities like nail polish and ice cream to resell for profit, highlighting the desperation that drives many to Rikers. For some, the jail offers a perverse refuge from the dangers of homelessness, underscoring the systemic failures that contribute to the cycle of incarceration.
Life within Rikers revolves around coping with the crushing boredom and ever-present threat of violence. Simple card games like spades and rummy become cherished distractions. Inmates resort to crafting makeshift dice from soap and toilet paper, highlighting the ingenuity born from deprivation. The most popular books circulating among the inmates are those depicting graphic violence, drug dealing, and sex, offering a vicarious escape from the grim reality of their surroundings. Even pocket Bibles are repurposed, their pages serving as rolling papers for illicit substances. News from the outside world, gleaned from discarded newspapers, provides a fleeting connection to a life beyond the prison walls.
Visitors to Rikers are also subjected to the dehumanizing environment. They face invasive searches by aggressive correctional officers, who are vigilant for any attempt to smuggle contraband. Inmates are prohibited from physical contact with visitors, further emphasizing the isolating nature of incarceration. Despite ongoing efforts at reform, the conditions within Rikers remain deplorable. The constant threat of violence, lack of privacy, unsanitary conditions, and pervasive sense of degradation create a toxic atmosphere that takes a toll on both inmates and staff. The authors’ account paints a vivid portrait of a system in desperate need of change, where human dignity is routinely violated and rehabilitation seems a distant dream.
