Escaping Rikers Island: A Cinematic Journey

Description:

Although mass incarceration has entered the public discourse, we tend to examine it in reductive ways. We consider prison policy, public perception and individual experiences, but never all at once. Incarceration seeps into many aspects of life, and as such, its analysis requires an interdisciplinary approach. Through the story of Michael Martin, a 19-year-old formerly incarcerated in Rikers Island, we connect personal storytelling with policy changes and mass media. Unlike most juvenile prisoners, Michael has had the opportunity to craft a documentary about his experience and share it with the world through BYkids. In this panel, we will view excerpts from Michael's documentary and discuss how creating it informed Michael's life after Rikers.