I Was a Guard at Rikers Island

Mike Marcus grew up in the Bronx and became a Rikers Island corrections officer at just 21 years old. For five years, he worked inside one of America’s most notorious jails—witnessing violence, chaos, and the harsh realities of life behind bars. In this interview, Mike reveals the untold stories from his time on the job, the biggest misconceptions about corrections officers, and why he ultimately decided to leave the career behind.

#RikersIsland #PrisonStories #CorrectionsOfficer #PrisonLife #TrueCrimePodcast #BronxStories #LockedInPodcast #behindbars

Connect with Mike Marcus:
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?h...
https://ianbick.com/



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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: Facing Rikers at 21
02:00 Growing Up in the Bronx
06:00 Staying True and Avoiding Trouble
10:00 Early Influences and Family Support
14:00 Dreams, Football, and Changing Course
19:00 Mentorship and Shifting Mindsets
24:00 Image, Goals, and Taking the Job
29:00 Starting at Rikers: First Impressions
36:00 Respect, Challenges, and High-Security Units
44:00 Inside Realities: Officer Advice and Changing People
51:00 Rewards, Perks, and Dangers of the Job
01:01:00 Investigations and the Prison Rape Elimination Act
01:08:00 What Needs to Change at Rikers
01:13:00 Choosing to Leave and Life After Corrections
01:16:00 Final Thoughts and Closing