PRISON TIME It was a long time ago, 1970’s New York City. I boarded the Hazen Street bus at 59th & Lexington (in front of Bloomingdale’s) and stayed on board as it rumbled onward, stop after stop, at last crossing the endless causeway, (four thousand feet of bridge separating the “island” from surrounding boroughs) then pulling in, wheezing, at the checkpoint outside the Riker’s Island Reception Center. Slowly, the bus emptied and passengers stumbled into long weary lines, on approach to Visitor Clearance. Planes from LaGuardia (just yards across the water) took off every four minutes or so, flying low and shaking the walls of C-76, the Men’s House, the Adolescent Remand Shelter and the New York City Correctional Institution for Women (WHD: the Women’s House of Detention) – and all the cellblocks on The Rock.
Wow. So much here that's so important, especially now. I'm thinking about my niece who's nursing a newborn and has an outstanding warrant out against her -- a mistake having to do with probation she should never have been on in the first place. Her lawyer advises they go to court, but she's afraid of the baby being taken from her. An almost hopeless situation, and I know other women face this everyday. Thanks for writing what you write, doing what you do, being who you've always been.
Wow. So much here that's so important, especially now. I'm thinking about my niece who's nursing a newborn and has an outstanding warrant out against her -- a mistake having to do with probation she should never have been on in the first place. Her lawyer advises they go to court, but she's afraid of the baby being taken from her. An almost hopeless situation, and I know other women face this everyday. Thanks for writing what you write, doing what you do, being who you've always been.
Oh such a powerful piece. And powerful work you did there at Riker's.