Captives: How Rikers Island Took New York City Hostage

Captives is a book that tells the story of Rikers Island's descent into infamy and the last seventy years of New York and American politics from the vantage point of its jails. It is a story of a crowded field of contending powers struggle for the right to run our cities, culminating in the triumph of neoliberalism and mass incarceration. It draws on extensive archival research, journalism, interviews, prisoner testimonials, and firsthand experience to deliver an urgent intervention into our nationwide conversation about the future of mass incarceration.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Verso Books

Captives is a captivating blend of narrative storytelling and a dramatic retelling of New York and American politics over the past seventy years, viewed through the lens of its jails. It explores the complex dynamics of a crowded field of contending powers, including city bureaucrats, unions, black power activists, correctional officers, crooked cops, and elected leaders, as they vie for control over urban governance. This gripping tale culminates in the rise of two influential figures we recognize today as neoliberalism and mass incarceration.

The book delves into the history of how Rikers Island, the epitome of modern-day mass incarceration, came to be. It offers a sweeping vision, often evoking a cinematic quality, as it documents the pace of history set by the rhythmic clashes between corrections officers and prisoners, as well as between police officers and virtually everyone else. Written by a one-time inmate with extensive archival research, decades of journalism, interviews, prisoner testimonials, and firsthand experience, Captives serves as an urgent intervention into our nation's ongoing conversation about the future of mass incarceration.

Through its compelling narrative, Captives sheds light on the systemic issues that have contributed to the proliferation of mass incarceration, including racial discrimination, poverty, inadequate education, and the war on drugs. It challenges the dominant narratives that perpetuate the prison-industrial complex and advocates for transformative solutions that prioritize rehabilitation, community support, and addressing the root causes of crime.

The book also offers a poignant reflection on the human cost of mass incarceration, highlighting the experiences of prisoners, their families, and the communities they leave behind. It sheds light on the struggles of former inmates to reintegrate into society, navigate the challenges of joblessness, poverty, and social exclusion, and strive for a better future.

Captives is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between politics, power, and social justice. It serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address the systemic issues that perpetuate mass incarceration and work towards a more equitable and compassionate society. By providing a comprehensive and nuanced account of the past seventy years, Captives offers valuable insights into the forces that have shaped our world and provides a roadmap for a more promising future.

Weight: 636g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788739955