As a teenager, Ismael Nazario was sent to New York’s Rikers Island jail, where he spent 300 days in solitary confinement -- all before he was ever convicted of a crime. Now as a prison reform advocate he works to change the culture of American jails and prisons, where young people are frequently subjected to violence beyond imagination. Nazario tells his chilling story and suggests ways to help, rather than harm, teens in jail.

Ismael Nazario: What I learned as a kid in jail

What I learned as a kid in jail

Ismael Nazario's stint in Rikers Island before his conviction, particularly in solitary, highlights the need for prison reform.

Rikers Island's culture, nicknamed "gladiator school", pits young inmates in a cycle of violence, thwarting rehabilitation efforts.

Nazario proposes targeted mentorship and innovative programs, like art and music, to transform jails into spaces for positive change.