Rikers Public Memory Project Oral History Program

Gianina Cruz was first incarcerated at Rikers Island when she was 18 years old. After serving three terms "upstate" in state prisons, she found herself back at Rikers when COVID-19 first swept through the facility in early 2020. All 36 women in her dorm, including her, contracted the virus. She and 28 of her dormmates were hospitalized. Cruz describes Rikers Island as a place that broker her "mentally, physically, and emotionally." She got into some physical altercations there, though she tried to stay out of trouble by reading in her cell. She shares her struggles with early childhood trauma, and talks about dealing with post-incarceration depression and detoxing. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Gianina Cruz

Paul Johnson was born in Brooklyn and raised in Harlem and the Bronx. He served several stints at Rikers, some lasting days and some lasting months. He was incarcerated at Rikers from the fall of 2018 to the spring of 2020, when he was released amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson, who lives with PTSD and depression, was housed in the mental observation (MO) unit at Rikers. While in jail, he got paid to do suicide watch, going cell to cell and intervening if he observed individuals engaged in self-harm. He survived a severe leg infection and a violent encounter with a group of Latin King gang members during his incarceration. When asked what Rikers smells like, he replied: "Death. Feet. Vomit. Bowels. Weed. Cigarettes. K2." (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Paul Johnson

Lauren Valente grew up in the Bronx. She describes herself as "a good kid" who avoided trouble. In 2010, she was arrested, and she cycled in and out of jail for the next decade due to her addiction to prescription pain medication. In early 2020, she was incarcerated at Rikers Island for a parole violation when COVID-19 first swept through the facility. She describes being locked down for months as the virus moved through the jail, sickening 38 out of the 50 women in her dorm. (She did not get sick or develop symptoms.) While at Rikers, she was friendly with some officers and other incarcerated women. She mostly kept to herself and kept busy by working several jobs, including taking the garbage out, cleaning the floors, working in the mess hall, and helping in the paint shop. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

RPMP Lauren Valente 20200616

Omar Alexander grew up in Crown Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn. He served several terms at Rikers, where he worked in the barbershop. His mom worked on Rikers Island for 20 years, and she would walk over from her building to visit him. A practicing Muslim, he started his days in jail meditating, praying, exercising, and stretching. He was incarcerated at Rikers Island in early 2020 when COVID-19 first swept through the facility. He and others had a stand-off with guards, refusing to leave their dorm until they got face masks. He describes Rikers as "gladiator school," where his survival instincts kicked in. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

RPMP Omar Alexander 20200617

Jenna Mallett grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She arrived in New York City as a 20-year-old in 2013. She served two terms at Rikers, the first in 2019 and the second in 2020. She lived in Rikers' Rose M. Singer Center for female detainees, though she moved around the jail complex several times during her incarceration. Some dorms were calm, and some were rowdy. Mallett was at the jail complex in early 2020 when COVID-19 first swept through the facility. She recalls how people infected with Covid were isolated on the third floor of her dorm. She says that Rikers taught her to be more self-reliant; she left the jail thinking: "don’t worry about nobody else. Worry about your damn self." (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Jenna Mallett 20200617

Kevin Creary served several terms on Rikers Island. He discusses protests for racial justice, aggressive policing, and resource allocation, arguing that billions of dollars could be transferred from police budgets into communities that experience over-incarceration. He points out the need for better staff training on Rikers Island and more programs for incarcerated individuals, including job training. Asked how Rikers should be commemorated, he says it "should be remembered as a place of misery for everyone involved there." (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Kevin RPMP audio_only

Emely 08.14.2020 (Spanish)

Miguelina Bloise 08.15.20 (Spanish)

Tahtianna Fermin 07.23.20

RPMP Ivelisse Gilestra 20200728

Pilar De Jesus 08.11.20

Joseph Wilson 03.30.2021

Jairo Santos 11.18.20 Zoom

Rikers Public Memory Project and Local Voices Network virtual community conversation focusing on the harmful impact of Rikers Islands on New Yorkers. Conversation open to those impacted by Rikers.
On this episode we hear from Piper Anderson, Tamika Graham, Dylan Brown and Nicole.

05.08.20 RPMP LVN Convo 1

Rikers Public Memory Project and Local Voices Network virtual community conversation focusing on the harmful impact of Rikers Islands on New Yorkers. Conversation open to those impacted by Rikers. On this episode we hear from :Anna Pastoressa, Akyla Tomlinson, Tai McField and Marion

05.13.20 RPMP LVN Convo 2

Rikers Public Memory Project and Local Voices Network virtual community conversation focusing on the harmful impact of Rikers Islands on New Yorkers. Conversation open to those impacted by Rikers.
On this episode we hear from: Holly Carter, Gregory Pierce, and Ruth McDaniels.

05.22.20 RPMP LVN Convo 3

Rikers Public Memory Project and Local Voices Network virtual community conversation focusing on the harmful impact of Rikers Islands on New Yorkers. Conversation open to those impacted by Rikers. On this episode we hear from: Jenny Goldberg, Gennady Yusim, James Young lll, and Yonette Grogan.

05.27.20 RPMP LVN Convo 4

RPMP Community Conversation as part of a partnership with Local Voices Network and the Department of Health Mental Health for Take Care New York. The story-focused conversations engaged those impacted by Rikers in discussions where they:
- Shared visions, dreams, and plans for a city where every New Yorker can be healthy no matter their race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, immigration status, or neighborhood;
- Identified actors that are not necessarily seen as public health champions, but play a role in the health of our communities;
- Discussed the root causes of health inequities and carefully think about how to address them.
- Ensured Rikers Island is a part of the public health conversation.
 ON this episode we hear from: Brandon Holmes, Elena Weissman, and Trent Taylor

LVN DOHMH Community Convo 1 06242020

RPMP Community Conversation as part of a partnership with Local Voices Network and the Department of Health Mental Health for Take Care New York. The story-focused conversations engaged those impacted by Rikers in discussions where they:
- Shared visions, dreams, and plans for a city where every New Yorker can be healthy no matter their race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, immigration status, or neighborhood;
- Identified actors that are not necessarily seen as public health champions, but play a role in the health of our communities;
- Discussed the root causes of health inequities and carefully think about how to address them.
- Ensured Rikers Island is a part of the public health conversation.
On this episode we hear from : Kandra Clark, Anna Pastoressa, and Virginie Ladisch

LVN DOHMH Community Convo 2 06302020

This person spent a year at Rikers as a teenager. On his first day, he took note of how dirty and smelly the jail facility was. He remembers the mice, rats, and cockroaches. He survived a stabbing there, and also witnessed slashings and violence. "Nobody’s your friend on that whole Island," he recalls. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Rikers Public Memory Project Oral History Program

Humanities Action Lab