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DA: Rikers Guards Created "Incubator" for Violence

2009_01_rikersil.jpg Yesterday, three corrections officers at Rikers Island, as well as 12 adolescent inmates, were indicted on charges "ranging from manslaughter, conspiracy, enterprise corruption and other offenses stemming from an investigation into the death of an 18-year-old inmate at a Rikers Island detention facility." Apparently an 18-year-old Christopher Robinson was beaten to death, after refusing to participate in "The Program," which the Daily News calls the guards' "fight club" of inmates. The Bronx DA's office explained, "inmates who went along with the Program agreed to turn over a percentage of the monetary value in their inmate commissary account and also give up some of their phone privileges to the 'foot soldiers and enforcers' of the Program," and those who didn't would be assaulted after enforcers—the guards would give "The Program" enforcers access to remote areas for beatings. Two guards Michael McKie and Khalid Nelson were held on $200,000 bail for criminal enterprise while guard Denise Albright was held on $50,000 bail for conspiracy and assault.

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Comments [rss]

  • smacky

    I like that the chick is smiling. dope

  • pete

    This is only the tip of the ice berg of what actually happens there.

  • What is exactly is the hiring process like at Rikers given the behavior of their guards?

  • consumerx

    douchebags

  • ides_of_march

    If you're not an amoral, cold-blooded, remoreseless sociopath going into prison, you will be when you come out it seems.

  • palestine

    I smell this in an episode of Law and Order coming up.

  • handsomedevil

    I would go with "evil" rather than "animal." Imagine being in a prison with no rule of law, where people can abuse you any way they want.

  • r1b2

    These guards are the lowest form of animal. They need to be locked up for a good long time.

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