Whistleblower Exposes Shocking Abuse & Neglect Inside Rikers Island Prison | Justyna Rzewinski

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 745 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2025

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Justyna Rzewinski, former Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health at Rikers Island, exposes the shocking abuse and neglect inside one of the country’s most notorious jails. She reveals the disturbing practice of "deadlocking," where detainees with serious mental illnesses are confined to their cells for extended periods without access to medical care. With firsthand accounts of systemic failures, mistreatment, and corruption, Justyna shares why she became a whistleblower and the devastating impact of neglect on inmates. She also discusses her ongoing fight for mental health reform and humane treatment in the prison system. #Whistleblower #RikersIsland #PrisonAbuse #InmateNeglect #TrueCrime #PrisonReform #InsideRikers #Exposed Thank you to LUCY for sponsoring today’s episode: Let’s level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Go to HTTP://LUCY.CO/IANBICK and use promo code (IANBICK) to get 20% off your first order. Lucy has a 30-day refund policy if you change your mind. Connect with Justyna Rzewinski: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justynaspeaksup/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justyna-rzewinski-lcsw-phd-c-a620142b Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Buy Merch: https://www.ianbick.com/shop Use code lockedin at checkout to get 20% off your order Timestamps: 00:00:00 Journey to Becoming a Clinical Supervisor at Riker's Island 00:04:09 Exploring Career Paths in Forensic Psychology 00:08:04 Introduction to Lucy Breakers 00:12:25 Challenges in Reintegration After Incarceration 00:16:40 Challenges of Reintegration for Former Prisoners 00:21:01 Mental Health Assessment and Suicide Watch Procedures in Correctional Facilities 00:25:10 Shocking Living Conditions in New York 00:29:46 Challenges in Coordinating Inmate Care 00:34:00 Rikers Island and Mental Health: The Fit for Trial Cycle 00:38:10 Mental Health Challenges in Detention Centers 00:42:29 Inmate Manipulation and Staff Dynamics in Mental Health Units 00:46:45 Workplace Dynamics and Gender Distribution in Corrections 00:51:05 Testifying Against Inhumane Practices 00:55:18 Investigation and Potential Closure of Rikers Island 00:59:36 Ending Solitary Confinement Policies 01:03:53 The Impact of Solitary Confinement on Mental Health 01:08:01 Finding and Reaching Out to You Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Justina, welcome to Locked In. Thank you to Carissa, who was a guest on the show for connecting us today.
0:04.7	Yeah, thank you for having me.
0:06.4	Yeah, you've been quite busy with everything that's going on with your life and the story you're about to share today.
0:12.6	Yes, it's been a crazy two months.
0:16.2	Did you ever expect it to be like this?
0:18.0	Never in a million years. I thought the story was going to come out,
0:21.9	and that would be it. I had no idea I was going to get this big. And the story we're talking
0:26.4	about is about Rikers Island. You used to work at Rikers Island. Yes. So I worked there for nine months.
0:32.8	I started December 4th, 2023, and then I resigned in August, and my last day was in September.
0:39.9	And what was your role at Rikers?
0:41.7	So I was the clinical supervisor of the two mental health units.
0:45.9	Okay.
0:46.4	Now let's back up a second go from how you got to that position.
0:50.1	Did you grow up in New York?
0:51.7	I did, but I was born in Poland, and I came here when I was seven years old, but I came straight to New York City to Queens, and that's where I lived all my life.
1:00.9	Was it a big difference between Poland and New York City?
1:04.1	Yeah, it was, especially because I lived in a small town.
1:07.9	So, yes, definitely big difference.
1:09.6	And I didn't know the language. So it was definitely
1:12.0	a culture shock. Oh, you learned English fully over here? Yes. What do they speak in Poland? Just
1:17.6	Polish? Yes. Okay. And no one speaks English over there? They do. Like, they're learning English
1:24.2	in school now, but I only went to first grade, so we didn't learn English at that point.
	...

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