EPISODE · Oct 20, 2025 · 1H 42M
I Was the Rikers Island Gang Intel Boss | Theresa Ramos
from Locked In with Ian Bick · host Ian Bick
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: [email protected] Thank you to BLUECHEW & PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://bluechew.com/ and use promo code LOCKEDIN at checkout to get your first month of BlueChew & pay five bucks for shipping. Prizepicks: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What this episode covers
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: [email protected] Thank you to BLUECHEW & PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://bluechew.com/ and use promo code LOCKEDIN at checkout to get your first month of BlueChew & pay five bucks for shipping. Prizepicks: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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I Was the Rikers Island Gang Intel Boss | Theresa Ramos
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