Dwayne Gardner

Dwayne Gardner grew up in the Marcy Housing Projects in Brooklyn, New York. He first served time at Rikers in 1984. He talks about Rikers' enduring "ruthless" culture, affecting guards and incarcerated people alike. He witnessed brutal violence during the day, including a fatal stabbing, and heard people crying at night alone in their cells. He describes Rikers as a health hazard, with crumbling infrastructure, pests, and unsanitary conditions. Gardner was incarcerated at Rikers when COVID-19 first swept through the facility in early 2020. He describes how the jail was woefully unprepared to deal with the virus, causing widespread chaos and misinformation. Social distancing was impossible, and officials waited a month to distribute masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. He vowed to never return to Rikers after the chaos and anger he witnessed during his most recent stint. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)