How Rikers Island jail makes 7 million meals a year

"New York City's infamous jail, Rikers Island, currently houses nearly 7,000 detainees. Chefs, not inmates, do the cooking. But while they're on their shift, the chefs are locked in, too."

"There are cameras everywhere, monitored from the guard's office. Knives are chained to heavy machinery. Can lids slide into a locked cage. Spoons are locked up in the office."

"Inside Rikers' kitchens, there's a delicate balance between the chefs, guards, and the detainees who wash the dishes."

Rikers Island houses nearly 7,000 detainees and uses professional chefs rather than inmates to prepare meals. Chefs remain locked in during their shifts and operate under constant surveillance, with cameras monitored from the guard's office. Kitchen tools are heavily controlled: knives are chained to heavy machinery, lids are slid into locked cages, and spoons are stored in the office. Detainees perform dishwashing under these constraints. The kitchen environment depends on a delicate balance and daily negotiation among locked-in chefs, corrections officers, and detainees who handle cleaning tasks.

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