If you enjoyed reading BLACK AND WHITE, you might like...

The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tyrell by Coe Booth
Crackback by John Coy
Ball Don't Lie by Matt de la Pena
Cheated by Patrick Jones
The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman
Autobiography of My Dead Brother by Walter Dean Myers
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Slam by Walter Dean Myers
Paranoid Park by Blake Nelson
The Hoopster by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Hip-hop High School by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Homeboyz by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Boot Camp by Todd Strasser
Snitch by Allison Van Diepen
Street Pharm by Allison Van Diepen

Links will take you to a description on Amazon.com. NCPL owns each of these titles. Roosevelt High School may own some of these. If not, talk to Mrs. Hancock about ordering them.

NEWS: Corrections Officers Accused of Letting Inmates Run Rikers Island Jail

Corrections Officers Accused of Letting Inmates Run Rikers Island Jail

This New York Times article dated 1/23/09 discussed the violence that is prevalent on Rikers Island. This case stems from the 10/18/08 beating death of an 18-year-old inmate.

Rikers High Videos

More Rikers Island Facts

According to TruTV's Inside an American Jail:

• Rikers Island in New York is considered the world’s largest penal colony. As many as 130,000 inmates reside there each year (although only about 15,000 at any one time).
• Check out more of their startling facts about American jails.

This is the bridge inmates cross on their way to Rikers Island.

Learn More About Rikers Island

• Get the basic facts from this Wikipedia article.
• Find out more about Rikers Island on this website created by NYC24/Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
• Watch this video of Bob's experience visiting a friend on Rikers Island.
• Take a photo tour of Rikers Island.
• Read A Tale of Two Ex-Inmates.

This map is from CourtTV.com
Another view of Rikers Island.

Famous Rikers Island Inmates

The jail facilities on Rikers Island are for temporary inmates or those serving city sentences of one year or less. You may know a few of these famous Rikers inmates.

Mark David Chapman
1980-1981 for the murder of John Lennon (12-8-80). He is currently serving time at Attica State Prison and was denied parole in 2004.





Tupac Shakur
1995 for sexual assault, served 8 months and was released on $1.4 million bond. He Died in Las Vegas on 9-13-96.





DMX
2006, served time for reckless endangerment and traffic citations. He was given a 70 day sentence but was released early for good behavior/time served.




Foxy Brown
2007-2008, served one year for violent assault





To find out more about these famous inmates, click here.

Teen Inmates on Rikers Island

If you were a teen sentenced to Rikers Island (like Marcus), you would probably serve your time in this facility, one of 10 jails on the island.

Adolescent Reception and Detention Center
Address: 11-11 Hazen St., East Elmhurst, N.Y. 11370

Adolescent Reception and Detention Center was opened in 1972. The facility houses adolescent male detainees (ages 16-18). ARDC has a capacity of 2,500 in a combination of modular dormitories, Sprung structures and cells.


Helping New York Youths, Fresh Out of Jail, Stay Out

This photo and article are from the New York Times (dated January 2, 2007).

Facts about Rikers Island

• There are approximately 13,500 inmates daily on Rikers.
  
• Of that population, about 800 are teens.
  
• Half of those teens are junior high dropouts and half read below a sixth grade level.
  
• Without intervention, 2/3 of release inmates return to jail within 3 years
• With training and education, 70-80% will stay OUT of jail.
  

Paul Volponi

Author Paul Volponi has published 6 novels for teens. Click on each cover for more information. You can also access his website @ http://www.paulvolponibooks.com/

1st book: Black and White by Paul Volponi

The first book we'll be discussing is Black and White by Paul Volponi. Books were distributed to students on January 28th. We will meet each Wednesday during SSR (2:50-3:05pm) in Mrs. Ochs room. If you have received a book, you are making a commitment to read and join us for book club discussions.

More information about Black and White can be found on NCPL's book review blog or on the author's website.