I Was a Guard at Rikers Island

Mike Marcus grew up in the Bronx and at just 21 years old became a corrections officer at Rikers Island — one of America's most notorious jails. For five years he worked inside witnessing violence chaos and the harsh realities of life behind bars. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Mike reveals the untold stories from his time on the job what the biggest misconceptions about corrections officers really are and why he ultimately decided to walk away. He shares what his first impressions of Rikers were how he earned respect in high security units what officer advice actually looks like the rewards perks and dangers of the job what the Prison Rape Elimination Act investigations involve and what genuinely needs to change at Rikers Island. This is one of the most honest and direct accounts of Rikers Island corrections officer life we have ever had on this show. #RikersIsland #PrisonStories #CorrectionsOfficer #PrisonLife #TrueCrimePodcast #BronxStories #LockedInPodcast #behindbars Connect with Mike Marcus: https://www.instagram.com/growthwithm... Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?h... https://ianbick.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Became a Rikers Island CO at 21 — 5 Years Inside — Mike's Full Story 02:00 Growing Up in the Bronx and the Early Life That Shaped Everything 06:00 Staying True and Avoiding Trouble in One of New York's Toughest Environments 10:00 The Early Influences and Family Support That Kept Him on the Right Path 14:00 His Dreams of Football and How His Course Changed Toward Corrections 19:00 The Mentorship and Mindset Shifts That Led Him to Rikers Island 24:00 The Image Goals and the Decision to Take the Corrections Job at 21 29:00 His First Impressions of Rikers Island and What Those Early Days Really Looked Like 36:00 Earning Respect in High Security Units and What That Actually Required 44:00 The Inside Realities of Being a Corrections Officer and What Changing People Looks Like 51:00 The Rewards Perks and Genuine Dangers That Defined the Job Every Single Day 01:01:00 Investigations and What the Prison Rape Elimination Act Really Involves 01:08:00 What Genuinely Needs to Change at Rikers Island and What He Saw That Proved It 01:13:00 Why He Ultimately Chose to Leave and What Life After Corrections Really Looked Like 01:16:00 His Final Thoughts on Everything He Witnessed and What He Wants People to Know