I Was a Rikers Island Prison Guard — Here's Why I Quit

Jelani Vanholten didn’t grow up wanting to work inside one of America’s most dangerous jails—but life led him behind the walls of Rikers Island. After attending college and trying several career paths, he put on the correctional officer uniform and was assigned to one of Rikers’ most feared units: The House of Pain.Inside those walls, respect wasn’t given—it was earned. Jelani became known as a CO who treated inmates with firmness and fairness, earning credibility from both staff and prisoners. But the longer he stayed inside Rikers, the darker the job became. From daily violence and psychological battles to navigating gang politics and surviving high-tension housing units, Jelani saw the brutal reality of New York City’s jail system up close. But everything changed when he felt his life was in danger—and the department didn’t have his back.

#RikersIsland #PrisonStories #FormerCO #LawEnforcementLife #PrisonGuard #InsideTheSystem #WhyIQuit #truecrimepodcast

Connect with Jelani Vanholten:
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Purchase his book:
http://Nylifeontheisland.com

Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
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https://ianbick.com/

Shop Locked In Merch:
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Timestamps:
00:00 The Rikers “House of Pain” Unit Explained
00:38 Who Is Delani? Meet Today’s Guest
02:12 Growing Up in NYC & Early Survival Skills
04:46 Childhood Friendships & Street Lessons
05:52 Dreaming of Music & Reality Hitting Hard
06:44 First Encounters with the Justice System
07:59 Choosing a Career in Law Enforcement
09:03 Applying to Work at Rikers Island
10:07 The Corrections Academy: What It’s REALLY Like
11:17 Mental & Physical Challenges in Training
12:56 The OC Spray Test — Everyone Breaks Here
14:39 Training vs. The Actual Jail… No Comparison
15:54 How Delani’s Family Reacted to the Job
20:28 Day One on Rikers Island — Shock to the System
24:19 The First Shifts: Chaos, Noise & Control
27:05 Breaking Up Fights & When Force Is Necessary
30:12 Working the Mental Health Units
32:04 A Crisis in Segregation — Life or Death Decision
36:43 Controlled Chaos & Officer Culture on the Job
42:06 How Officers Earn Respect Inside
49:20 Balancing Rapport with Inmates vs. Authority
01:03:12 Boundaries, Respect, and When to Act
01:09:54 The Moment Respect Starts to Slip
01:10:54 Why Delani Ultimately Left Rikers
01:18:16 Feeling Betrayed by the Department
01:23:52 The Breaking Point: Safety vs. Family
01:27:17 Life After Rikers — What Comes Next
01:33:01 New Work & Purpose Beyond Corrections
01:34:57 Looking Back: The Cost of the Job
01:35:32 Closing Thoughts & Takeaways