Eddie Cuadrado

Eddie Cuadrado grew up in the South Bronx in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1987, when he was 24 years old, he was incarcerated at Rikers. He returned to Rikers 28 years later, in 2015. He noticed more violence, gangs, and drugs during his second stint than his first one. In total, Cuadrado spent 25 years of his life incarcerated. While in state prison, Cuadrado led fatherhood, life skills, and re-entry workshops. He also drew portraits and built model ships. He wants Rikers to be remembered as the "land of the living dead," full of people who are alive but invisible and dead to the outside world. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)