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DA: Rikers Guards Created "Incubator" for Violence
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 23, 2009
Modified Jan 23, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 23, 2009
Modified Jan 23, 2009
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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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The Program
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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