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Politics And Punishment on Rikers Island
July 15, 2004
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In late 2002 word began to emerge that New York City Correction Department employees were working on Republican political campaigns -- often while on-duty. Now, in the WNYC news documentary: Politics and Punishment on Rikers Island, Andrea Bernstein takes a close look how and why jail supervisors organized hundreds of their employees as campaign foot soldiers – in apparent violation of city law.
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Part 1
July 13, 2004
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In 2002, in the final weeks of Governor George Pataki's campaign for re-election, word began to emerge that New York City Correction Department employees were working on Republican political campaigns -- often while on-duty. Now, WNYC takes a close look at the system of rewards and punishments on Rikers Island that led to hundreds of city employees working as campaign foot soldiers - in apparent violation of city law. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein has this first of two reports.
Part 2:
July 14, 2004
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Earlier, WNYC looked at how hundreds of employees of the New York City Department of Correction came to work on Republican political campaigns for a decade beginning in the 1990's, often on City time. Those who participated were rewarded with the choicest assignments and promotions. Those who worked for Democrats faced demotion, cuts in pay, and transfers to the most dangerous jails. Today, WNYC's Andrea Bernstein reports on how nobody has been charged with wrongdoing for these activities.