Creative Project #2

For this monument I have decided to address the issue of the failures of the criminal justice system in NYC and to a lesser extent around the world. I would like the main focus of this monument be for the city that we live in. In the early 90's due to the overcrowding of the prison on Riker's Island a barge was built to accommodate the growing number of prisoners in NYC. Prisoners at Riker's are often held without charge for days, months and sometimes even years. Still others are imprisoned for petty crimes like hopping subway turnstiles or unpaid fines. The prison is literally overcrowded with people who do not need to be there, most of whom are working class, disenfranchised people of color, people born into poverty who suffer most from being away from their families and their jobs.
I have chosen to shed light on this issue because I feel it is a topic that is often overlooked here in New York City. People view New York as a glamorous city, a wonderful place to visit but tend not to know about the city's dark side. The people who are harassed by the police everyday and fall victim to the broken criminal justice system.
My monument would be an exact replica of the prison barge on Riker's Island, the drab depressing steel structure will be located on the Hudson River, down by Battery Park, an area inhabited by some the most affluent in New York. It will serve as a constant reminder of the frustration, depression and anger that victims of NYC's criminal justice system suffer through every day, before, during and after their stay in prison. It will create awareness for residents and visitors of this city that we do have problems, and maybe one day it will lead to a drastic but necessary change of our criminal justice system.