Theresa Ramos started her career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office before becoming the Director of Gang Intelligence at Rikers Island, one of the most notorious jails in America. In this interview, Theresa breaks down the truth about gangs inside Rikers, how violence really starts, and what the public gets wrong about the facility. She opens up about recruiting informants, managing gang intelligence, and what changes are needed to make Rikers safer — both for staff and inmates.
#RikersIsland #PrisonStories #GangIntelligence #TrueCrimePodcast #CorrectionalOfficers #PrisonDocumentary #LockedInPodcast #NewYorkPrisons
Connect with Theresa Ramos:Email: theresaramos@vanguardcrimestrategies.com
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Timestamps:
00:00 The Truth About Rikers Island
02:00 Who Is Teresa? From Bronx DA Office to Gang Intel Director
07:00 Growing Up in the Bronx: Survival, Culture & Grit
10:00 Family Influence, Discipline & Early Struggles
13:00 Rebellious Teen Years & Moving to Puerto Rico
21:00 Failing Forward: College Setbacks & Finding Direction
28:00 Discovering Criminal Justice & Real-World Impact
34:00 Working Homicide Cases & a Shocking Family Secret
45:00 Climbing the Ladder: From Admin to Gang Analyst
47:00 First Major Gang Investigation & Breaking Down Intel Work
54:00 Gang Structures, Violence Trends & NYC’s Street War Data
01:03:00 How Gangs Operate in New York: Codes, Power & Rank
01:12:00 Inside Rikers: Corruption, Chaos & Survival Tactics
01:17:00 Recruiting Informants: Strategy vs. Loyalty
01:23:00 Recidivism, Violence & Why the Cycle Continues
01:26:00 Dropping the Flag: When Gang Members Want Out
01:30:00 Can Rikers Be Fixed? Misconceptions vs. Reality
01:33:00 Criminal Justice, Society & What Needs to Change
01:37:00 Final Reflections & What Teresa Learned From It All
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