These walls : the battle for Rikers Island and the future of America's jails
(Large type book)

Regular print version previously published by Avid Reader Press.

"For nearly a century, Rikers Island has stood on a 416-acre strip of land in the East River, housing an average daily population of 10,000 prisoners (the majority of whom are awaiting arraignment and trial), employing about the same number of corrections officers and civilian workers, and costing just over $800 million per year to operate. Which is why, when Mayor Bill De Blasio announced in 2017 that Rikers would be closed within the next decade, replaced with new buildings designed to reflect new outlooks on mass incarceration and prisoner rehabilitation, the decision seemed to be a step towards a more humane, more understanding future. It sounded like an unalloyed good to many, including Architectural Digest writer Eva Fedderly, who was leading the magazine's coverage of the closure. But, as she dug deeper and spoke to more people in the different populations surrounding and participating directly in the debate, she discovered that the consensus was hardly universal. Many told her that new jails wouldn't solve anything -- but what could were more programs outside of jails, more equity, and alternative ways to deal with crime. People needed to be given the tools to succeed. Only then could violence, racism, and crime in America subside. So why was no one listening?"--,Provided by publisher.