Page 4 - Riverhead Facility News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

For years, the most dominant gang operating behind the walls of the suffolk county jail's riverhead facility has been the bloods. >> step over the back corner. >> now their archrival is out to change the pecking order. >> crips are trying to show force inside the jail. this is one of the problems we're having right now. that is why we are having escalation in fights. it's almost a green light for every time they see a blood in the jail. everybody is aware of it. we kind of know who the bloods and crips are. >> still pretty. >> we try to keep them separated as much as we can but they will meet ...

In the town of riverhead the county jail is a reminder that crime knows no bounds. >> crimes you thought you got away coming back to bite you in the ass. >> the riverhead facility is one of two jails operated by the sheriff's office. it houses about half of the county's 1,500 inmates, most of whom are only charged with crimes and are awaiting trial at the resolution of the cases. >> timing is everything. it's fast. >> i do. nonviolent general population inmates are usually allowed out of their cells between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. >> i'm going to get right back to you. >> but that freedom is ...

For years, the most dominant gang operating behind the walls of the suffolk county jail's riverhead facility has been the bloods. >> step over the back corner. >> now their archrival is out to change the pecking order. >> crips are trying to show force inside the jail. this is one of the problems we're having right now. that is why we are having escalation in fights. it's almost a green light for every time they see a blood in the jail. everybody is aware of it. we kind of know who the bloods and crips are. >> still pretty. >> we try to keep them separated as much as we can but they will meet ...

At the suffolk county jail's river head facility on long island most of the correctional staff said they are vigilant in monitoring the activities of inmates. but now the recent increase in violence between the two gangs, the bloods and crips, officers must be especially alert to signs of trouble. sergeant investigator lundquist heads up the jail's gang unit. one training tool is called a shank board, a collection of lethal weapons suffolk county inmates have crafted from evidence items. >> most of the weapons were made from things that we give them, combs from our commissary, toothbrushes, to...

Usually those with violent charges, are also held at the riverhead jail. cox is housed next to a 16 year old who jail officials say is also a crip. >> i'm telling you man, they can't do nothing to me. he can't do nothing to me [ bleep ]. >> he is like a friend of mine. i like him. he is young. he looks up to me. i be kind of schooling him. >> they join gang wide because they are looking for protection, they're looking to belong to something. it is mostly prevalent in the youth, 16, 17, 18 year olds here for the first time, scared. looking for safety and security and want to belong to something...