I am 28 years old and have been on this island for 26 months. It began with an awful, nauseating bus ride from the courthouse. You spend about twenty-four hours in intake getting processed. They send you to either a dorm (big room with some metal beds) or a unit with individual cells.
The food is so unhealthy. Nothing but starch and carbs. There is no gym or any real way to stay in shape. They count us like six times a day to make sure we haven’t run away. Commissary sells a bunch of junk food. The healthiest things in there are tuna and tea.
The worst part about jail is the strip-searches and the regular searches. When you first come in you are strip-searched. When you return from anywhere outside (i.e. working, hospital, court) they search your cell. It is so degrading and humiliating.
The best things, which they make hard for you anyway, are visits and getting mail.
I just want to sum up by saying not everyone in jail is guilty. We are detainees. We are here to prove our innocence. But to the Department of Corrections we are not innocent until proven guilty. We are guilty until proven innocent.
-Brigitte Harris
My first day at Rikers was horrible. I had to be checked out by doctors and sleep on the floor. The food was cold and looked like dog food. The COs (correctional officers) treated me badly. They cursed and called me names.
I try to stay out of trouble and read more, but there is so much drama around me. They have roaches that fly and all types of bugs I have never seen before. It’s very dirty. Most people don’t take showers. The CO searches my clothes and me at any given time. There is a limit to phone calls, visits, TV, everything. Jail is not the place to be. Freedom is everything.
-Sparkle Daniel
I’ve been in prison for going-on a year. It’s a very dirty and dangerous place to be. The inmates don’t get the help that is greatly needed for their cases. It’s a place you don’t want to come to—so please obey the law and stay in school. This place is scary. So please do the right thing, and say no to drugs.
-Luz Mendez
I am 25 years old and right now I am on Rikers Island. I have no children. However, I have raised children—so I know what it is to want the best for the younger generation.
The first thing that I want you guys to know is that jail is not only for “bad people.” Jail holds all types of people (good, bad, nice, mean, etc.).
A lot of the women in jail are good people who at one point in time made a bad decision.
It is very important to love what you do and be focused. For example, when you’re in school some children would say it’s boring. I think you should find something you like in school that’ll keep your mind entertained and focus on that. Before you know it, it’ll be time to go home and you would have had a good day.
Whenever you are going through something, please speak about it. Talk to your counselor, your parents, or even your older siblings. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Always remember that you are somebody, and your feelings really do matter. Be good at what you do and remain focused. Although it may be fun and cool to be outside in the streets, when you really think about it, there’s nothing you can learn from them. Ask to be in as many programs as possible. Love your life and remember you are somebody. Make the people who love you, care for you, and have helped you at one point in time be happy. Finish school and become an important person in this world. When you see people doing things that they’re not supposed to, stay away from them. You will be in the same amount of trouble as them if you were just there. Always be a leader, and not a follower.
-Daisha Galarza
I’ve been on Rikers Island for two years and some months… and I believe we all deserve a second chance. This place is no place for women. Jail is no place for anyone. It’s a lot to endure. When I think of the word “jail,” here are a few words that come to mind: favoritism, cut-throat, degrading, loneliness, filth. After reading that list, you tell me if it’s a place you want to be.
The story is as follows… a cutthroat world inside of a world; jail—a building with gates that locks you; you would swear a black cloud lived over it. Favoritism and ignorance is the norm. Either you’re not the right color or you don’t have the right look. Where does that come in in the job description?
Degrading: they strip search us, throw around our property, and take whatever they want from us. Jealousy is all over the place. People hate you because they are not as fortunate as you. And they get angry when you don’t want to talk to them or share your business. You could be embarrassed at any time. The officers talk to you like you’re worthless.
Loneliness is an emotion that is always there. It’s hard to share your feelings with anyone. There are psychiatrists you can talk to, but they might most likely try to give you medication that you don’t need—as opposed to talking to you.
Let’s not forget the filth: it’s dirty. There are bugs, huge roaches, and mice. The food is horrible, and you only get to talk to your family 21 minutes at a time—if you have money. A visit is only an hour. Imagine a limit on the amount of time you spend with your loved ones and family! At home you can be around your family all day… plus eat home-cooked food.
The list could go on and on, but the best way to cope is to stay away. Everyone makes mistakes. There are some good women here, but my advice is before you do something foolish, think about what you have to lose. So stay free, stay happy.
-Erica Olivencia
Five words to describe Rikers:
1. Unlawful: adj 1) not lawful: contrary to law: ILLEGAL 2) not morally right or conventional. Unlawful
2. Unjust: adj: characterized by injustice: deficient in justice and fairness: wrongful {complained of unjust treatment in court} Unjust
3. Inhumane: adj 1) lacking pity or kindness: savage. 2) lacking human warmth: impersonal. 3) not fit, adequate, or worthy. Inhuman
4. Degrade: vb 1) depose 2) to dray down in moral or intellectual character {degraded by a life of crime} Degrading
5. Alone: adj 1) separated from others: ISOLATED {alone in my room} 2) exclusive of anyone or anything else. Lonely
Jail: n: a building for the temporary custody of prisons {“little cage”}.
What do freedom, love and family mean to you?
-Ruby Malik
I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR DAISHA GALARZA THE 25YR OLD..I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS IS THE PERSON IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR. WERE YOU LOCKED UP IN HORIZONS.IF SO WE WERE LOCKED UP TOGETHER.I WILL NOT REVEAL MYSELF AS OF YET BECAUSE IM NOT SURE ITS U.DNT GET SPOOKED WE WERE FRIENDS.
THIS IS FOR DAISHA GALARZA.I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU WERE LOCKED UP IN HORIZONS ON 3RD AVE IN THE BRONX.IF SO WE WERE THEIR TOGETHER.MY NAME IS ASHLEY BROWN.ITS CRAZY HOW ALL THESE YEARS PAST BY AND FOR SOME STRANGE REASON I TRIED LOOKING YOU UP AND I FIND U HERE.IM NOT SURE IF U REMEMBER ME OR NOT MAYBE YOU HAVE AN IDEA WE WERE IN A-HALL TOGETHER………IF THIS IS THE DAISHA GALARZA IM LOOKING FOR IF YOU CAN PLEASE WRITE BACK….
This is for Brigitte Harris. I’ve heard of you before and watched you on Snapped. I also did a report for my class this semester. I could never imagine what happened to you. I’ve got two fathers a biological and my mother’s husband. They’ve never in their lives will ever lay their hands on me unless the want my mother to cause moved furniture and destruction. It p___d me off to hear about you. It made me so mad that I cried because I was angry. That will never in as many life times as I get happen to me. It will never happen to my children if I ever have any. This is going to seem very weird but I’d like to meet you. I have no reason behind that I just would like to meet you. Please read this at your soonest convience. As they say in the ‘hood “Stay Up Br’a”.
@Ashley Brown, yes it is Daisha from Horizon. I don’t know if you remeber me from Horizon but I rocked Hard with Naty and Daisha as well.. 🙂
This is for DAISHA GALARZA. Im trying to look u up. I cant find u. This is your ex-wife.
Daisha i hope all is well with u and ur love ones. Im home in belize. As crazy as it sounds i miss u. Take care D- NIce. Oh and holla @ ya gurl.
This is for my gur1 bridgette harris. I hope ur maintaining up in bedford hills mama. I just tried looking up up on facebook. Well be strong and stay positive at all times. Luv ya chica.
Sparkles i kno times is hard for u at this moment. And im sorry for the outcome of ur trial. But everything happens for a reason. One thing i can say about you sparkie is that you was always real and u knew how to make me laugh. I miss u and i hope ur doing okay up in bedford hills. Luv ya sparkie.
To all the women who have posted on this I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to you! Hope you all remember me! TINY! I was once in there with all of you and I know what it feels like being in there caged up! I know how disgusting the food was, how horrible the strip search was!!! I kn
Daisha knows & remembers none of you, were on the phone & she says thanks all for the love & support & she’s doing great….. S/o to you all xoxoxo love Mr. & Mrs. Galarza