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: https://www.instagram.com/growthwithm... Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?h... https://ianbick.com/ Buy Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop 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