The Rikers Public Memory Project (RPMP) archive is a public resource to be used for personal browsing and learning, research, education planning, and any projects or efforts that intend to find deeper understanding of the history of Rikers Island and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
We ask that visitors approach the archive with a few important considerations:
- Respect the stories and lives of our contributors. The stories shared with the archive are all from people who have been personally detained or supported detained loved ones or community members on Rikers. Most of these narrators are living today, and some may have continuing involvement in the legal system. Please handle their personal stories and perspectives with care. Please do not cite our archive with the intention to justify punishment or exploitation of anyone, regardless of harms they may be accused of. Remember, the vast majority of people on Rikers Island are there pre-trial, having been charged and not yet deemed guilty or not guilty at the time of their detainment.
- Care for yourself. All content in the RPMP archive comes with a content warning for interpersonal violence, state violence, family separation, mental and emotional distress, physical neglect, and abuse. Some content may also mention suicide, self harm, and sexual abuse. Until we are able to adequately provide content warnings for each individual story, please approach all content with care for yourself and be prepared to encounter these common themes. If you hear or see content that you think needs a special care statement, please share your thoughts with our team at info@rikersmemoryproject.org
- Share and cite the archive appropriately. If quoting or citing portions of content from the archive, please see the citation information at the bottom of each item page. Do not reproduce entire oral history interviews without explicit consent from the Rikers Public Memory Project and narrators. If you are using the archive for research, education, or another project, please complete this form to briefly share your plans with us. By notifying RPMP, you are helping us see the impact of the archive, and we may share these impacts with narrators, volunteers, and funders.
*** If you see an interview or material you have contributed to RPMP and would like it to be changed or removed, please contact info@rikersmemoryproject.org. RPMP will promptly acknowledge, review, and remove any requested information or material.