Juvenile-in-JusticeView the entire project at www.juvenile-in-justice.com Juvenile In Justice documents the placement and treatment of American juveniles housed by law in facilities that treat, confine, punish, assist and, occasionally, harm them. My medium is a conscience. For the past five years, I have interviewed and photographed both pre-adjudicated and committed youth in the juvenile justice system. To date, I have interviewed and photographed over 1,000 juveniles and administrators at 300+ facilities in 30 states in the U.S. I have made sure to keep the children’s identities unknown, by either photographing them from behind or obscuring their faces. I have photographed group homes, police departments, youth correctional facilities, juvenile courtrooms, high schools, shelters, Montessori classrooms, CPS interview rooms, and maximum security lock-down and non-lock-down shelters, to name a few. Earl Dunlap, the Director of Cook County Detention Center, welcomed me to his facility with the words: “Welcome to the gates of hell.” In the past I have photographed for major magazines, newspapers and institutions. At this phase in my career I am turning my lens towards the juvenile justice system and using what I have learned in 40+ years of photography to create a database of compelling images to instigate policy reform. My products are unbiased photographic and textual evidence of a system that houses more than 100,000 kids every day. Juvenile In Justice will be on view at the Nevada Museum of Art in Fall of 2012 and Feldman Gallery in 2013. |
Ronald Franklin, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center | Miami, Florida 2011 In May 2008, in Miami, a group of five young men were arrested for armed car-jacking, burglary, sexual battery and assault . Among them was then 13-year-old Ronald Franklin. The older members of the group pointed a finger at Ronald as the ring-leader although he was the youngest. The young man who is the main state’s witness against the others served two years of a plea agreement, was released, violated terms and is now re-incarcerated. Almost 3 ½ years after the crime, since his incarceration in June 2008, Ronald is still being held awaiting trial in an 8×10 cell at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Richard interviewed Ronald Franklin in 2010 and 2011. An excerpt from that interview was featured in Harper’s Magazine’s online edition, and can be read here |
Ronald Franklin's Bible with pictures of his mother, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center | Miami, Florida 2011 In May 2008, in Miami, a group of five young men were arrested for armed car-jacking, burglary, sexual battery and assault . Among them was then 13-year-old Ronald Franklin. The older members of the group pointed a finger at Ronald as the ring-leader although he was the youngest. The young man who is the main state’s witness against the others served two years of a plea agreement, was released, violated terms and is now re-incarcerated. Almost 3 ½ years after the crime, since his incarceration in June 2008, Ronald is still being held awaiting trial in an 8×10 cell at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Richard interviewed Ronald Franklin in 2010 and 2011. An excerpt from that interview was featured in Harper’s Magazine’s online edition, and can be read here |
Ronald Franklin, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center | Miami, Florida 2011 In May 2008, in Miami, a group of five young men were arrested for armed car-jacking, burglary, sexual battery and assault . Among them was then 13-year-old Ronald Franklin. The older members of the group pointed a finger at Ronald as the ring-leader although he was the youngest. The young man who is the main state’s witness against the others served two years of a plea agreement, was released, violated terms and is now re-incarcerated. Almost 3 ½ years after the crime, since his incarceration in June 2008, Ronald is still being held awaiting trial in an 8×10 cell at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Richard interviewed Ronald Franklin in 2010 and 2011. An excerpt from that interview was featured in Harper’s Magazine’s online edition, and can be read here |
Macon Youth Development Campus | Macon, Georgia 2011 |
Girl's behavior unit, Macon Youth Development Campus | Macon, Georgia 2011 |
Blessed | Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center | Miami, Florida 2010 A.N, age 18, from Opalaka. He will be here for four months according to the court. |
Los Angeles Police Department | Los Angeles, California 2008 |
Adult Booking Bench, West Los Angeles Police Department | Los Angeles, California 2008 |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center | Mendota, Wisconsin 2009 |
Hale Ho'omalu Juvenile Hall | Honolulu, Hawaii 2009 |
Caldwell Southwest Idaho Juvenile Detention Center | Caldwell, Idaho 2010 G., age 14, has been at Caldwell for one week and is contained in the observation room. He goes to school in the morning and comes back to his room. He doesn’t read or watch TV. He sits in the cell, he eats in the cell, he sleeps in the cell. He has been charged with battery against his aunt; his aunt is his sole guardian. “I’ve been here three times before. This is the longest.” |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Multnomah County, Oregon 2008 |
Hale Ho'omalu Juvenile Hall | Honolulu, Hawaii 2009 |
Challenge Program, Juvenile Probation Department, El Paso, Texas 2006 |
J, age 16 | North Dakota Youth Correctional Center | Mandan, North Dakota 2010 J, age 16, is a Sioux. She ran away from a group home and is in this center now for pre-adjudicated detention. She was previously in drug court for minor in consumption, for alcohol and pills. She says she does cocaine, meth, and shoots up oxycotin. She has been in and out of the system since she was 13. |
Colorado Division of Youth Corrections | Sol Vista, Colorado 2010 K., age 17, simulates motherhood with a life like doll at Sol Vista Youth Services Center. SVYSC is a treatment facility for juveniles with severe mental health needs and violent offenders. SVYSC is a last resort facility, after a juvenile has flunked out of other institutions. |
Twin Rivers Cottage | Missouri Hills, Missouri 2009 |
Giddings State School | Giddings, Texas 2008 |
Northwest Regional Youth Center | Kansas City, Missouri 2009 |
Johnson Youth Facilities | Juneau, Alaska 2010 |
Waverly Regional Youth Center | Waverly, Missouri 2009 |
Red Cliff Ascent | Enterprise, Utah 2008 |
Cook County Juvenile Detention Center | Chicago, Illinois 2009 |
Ventura Youth Correctional Facility | Ventura, California 2008 |
New Orleans Parish Prison | New Orleans, Louisiana 2009 |
S.M | Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center | Miami, Florida 2010 S.M, age 15, in the confinement unit. He spent 1 year in TGK (Turner Gilford Knight Correction Center) and has been at The Center for 9 days on charges of home invasion, kidnapping, armed car-jacking, aggravated assault, battery, and armed battery. He states that all charges were dropped to juvenile, otherwise he believes that had they been filed as adult he could get ten years in prison. He says he’ll probably get a level 10 program in Okachobee, juvenile prison, serving 3 years but only 1.5 if he behaves well. His mother lost her job two years ago, she lives with his step dad. In TGK he was never able to touch his mom, he says that after his release, “she hugged me for the first time in over a year and we both cried and cried.” All the visitation at The Center is in the gym and is set up for a hug with a parent and then holding hands. He is in confinement for writing “Fuck Folk” on a notebook. He says the food at The Center is not bad. |
Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center | Biloxi, Mississippi 2009 |
Red Cliff Ascent | Enterprise, Utah 2008 |
Central Juvenile Hall | Los Angeles, California 2009 |
Daily Search, Challenge Program, Juvenile Probation Department, El Paso, Texas 2006 El Paso, Texas 2006 |
Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center | Biloxi, Mississippi 2009 |
Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center | Mendota, Wisconsin 2009 |
TBI | Youth Offender System Facility | Pueblo, Colorado | 2010 The scar is from a traumatic brain injury. Many of the youth in the system have been the victims of violence, on the streets and at home, resulting in TBI and PTSD. Scars like this, while not common, are not infrequent. |
King County detention, Seattle, WA |
Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center | Mendota, Wisconsin 2009 |
Ferris School for Boys | Wilmington, Delaware 2010 J, age 15, confined to his cell for fighting. He will not be allowed into the general population for a couple of days. |
Community Assesment and Referral Service | San Francisco, California 2008 |
Central Juvenile Hall | Los Angeles, California 2009 |
King County Detention | Seattle, WA 2010 |
Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center | San Leandro, California 2009 |
Ventura Youth Correctional Facility | Ventura, California 2008 |
Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center | San Leandro, California 2009 |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center | San Leandro, California 2009 |
Young Mother | North Dakota Youth Correctional Center | Mandan, North Dakota 2010 S, age 17, has a 2.5 year old son and 4.5 month daughter. She has been at the center for 25 days. Her mother brings the children for her to visit with. This is her 1st time here. The mother is in her late 30s and had to quit her construction job to fill in for her daughter as child care. |
Hale Ho'omalu Juvenile Hall | Honolulu, Hawaii 2009 |
Central Juvenile Hall | Los Angeles, California 2009 |
Los Angeles County Detention Center | Los Angeles, California 2009 |
Orleans Parish Prison | New Orleans, Louisiana 2009 |
Cell model made by an inmate, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility | Ventura, California 2008 |
Highland, NY Commitment Center J. earns top honors in class. His room is impeccably clean and well organized. J. is a “revocator” — after having horseplay with a kid, he hurt him. His parents are both on disability because of their bad backs. He hopes to be a psychologist one day to help adults and children. |
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Facilities | Santa Barbara, California 2008 |
Giddings State School | Giddings, Texas 2008 |
Santa Maria Juvenile Holding Facility | Santa Maria, California 2008 |
Giddings State School | Giddings, Texas 2008 |
Watkins Mill Park Camp | Lawson, Missouri 2009 |
Ettie Lee Group Homes: North Hollywood Emancipation Dorm| Hollywood, California 2008 |
Juvenile Detention Center | Racine, Wisconsin 2009 |
Soaring Eagles Cottage, Hillsboro Treatment Center | Hillsboro, Missouri 2009 |
Ettie Lee Group Homes: North Hollywood Emancipation Dorm | Hollywood, California 2008 |
Food at 4 Different Juvenile Detention Centers |
Waverly Regional Youth Center | Waverly, Missouri 2009 |
Watkins MIll Park Camp | Lawson, Missouri 2009 |
Caldwell Southwest Idaho Juvenile Detention Center | Caldwell, Idaho 2010 |
Redhook, NY Treatment Center |
Crip | Washoe County, Nevada 2010 |
Waverly Regional Youth Center | Waverly, Missouri 2009 |
Watkins MIll Park Camp | Lawson, Missouri 2009 |
Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center, Golden, Colorado 2010 Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center houses a max. of 160 kids and focuses on therapy and anger management. 85% of the kids are on psychotropic medication and almost all have severe mental issues. Most children are “aggravated juveniles” – attempted murder, assault, etc. |
King County detention, Seattle, WA |
Horizons, Bronx NY S., age 17, discovered she was pregnant with her son, now 10 months old, when she arrived at the facility. S. is only able to see him every Thursday. She no longer speaks to her son’s father — he is in prison for attempted murder. She enjoys school and likes to read and she writes a lot of poems; her room is heavily decorated. S. has been here for 16 months and goes to court again in 2 weeks. She was 15 when she was charged for a double murder and dismemberment: dubbed “Queen of the Bloods.” |
Crip | Washoe County, Nevada 2010 |
Spofford, Bronx NY Sc. to Close 9/1/10 |
Central Juvenile Hall | Los Angeles, California 2009 |
Juvenile at attention, Challenge Program, Juvenile Probation Department, El Paso, Texas 2006. El Paso, Texas 2006 |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi 2009 |
Bible | Washoe County, Nevada 2010 |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Multnomah County, Oregon 2008 |
St. Louis Detention Center | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
Children of the Night | Van Nuys, California 2008 |
Twin Rivers Cottage | Missouri Hills, Missouri 2009 |
Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center, Golden, Colorado 2010 A.C., age 18, highest ranking Norteno in the system, despite his short stature. He is deeply religious. A.C.’s family and extended family visit him in the system. For him, there is no stigma to being in the system when his entire family has been in the system too. |
Cellmates, NFI Lakeside Assessment | Peabody, Massachusetts 2009 |
Ettie Lee Group Homes: North Hollywood Emancipation Dorm| Hollywood, California 2008 |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Bluett School | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
St. Louis Detention Center | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Multnomah County, Oregon 2008 |
Suicide Practice Dummy, Fairbanks Youth Facility | Fairbanks, Alaska 2010 |
Loysville, PA Youth Development Center |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Multnomah County, Oregon 2008 |
North Dakota Youth Correctional Center | Mandan, North Dakota 2010 |
Waverly Regional Youth Center | Waverly, Missouri 2009 |
Juvenile Detention Center | Racine, Wisconsin 2009 |
Juvenile Detention Center | Racine, Wisconsin 2009 |
Juvenile Detention Facility | Multnomah County, Oregon 2008 |
Reward Coupons, Detention Center, Wilmington, Delaware M., age 16, here for violation of probation for a felony he committed at 14. He has been here four times already. He has a massive amount of coupons, which are rewarded when you are seen doing something good. He has three brothers and two sisters: one brother is at Ferris. |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center | San Leandro, California 2009 |
Neonatal Intensive Care, Cottage Hospital | Santa Barbara, California 2008 |
Colorado DYC Pueblo Detention | Pueblo, Colorado 2010 Z. (L), age 14. His mom is out of work and his dad was a domestic abuser, leaving the family before Z was born. Z is a member of the Juggalo Gang. He is in DYC for two months after fighting a guy and permanently maiming the man’s left leg. The fight took place on the street. “I was hit first.” |
Spofford, Bronx NY Sc. to Close 9/1/10 |
COYSA Shelter | Hale'iwa, Hawaii 2009 |
Juvenile Justice Services Caliente Youth Center | Caliente, Nevada 2010 |
Crypt, Bridges (Spofford), Bronx, NY, facility sch to close 9/1/2010 |
Ethan Allen School | Wales, Wisconsin 2009 |
Hogan Street Regional Youth Center | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
Group meeting South Mountain, Pennsylvania |
Maryvale | Rosemead, California 2008 |
North Dakota Youth Correctional Center | Mandan, North Dakota 2010 |
Loysville, PA Youth Development Center |
Soaring Eages Cottage, Hillsboro Treatment Center | Hillsboro, Missouri 2009 |
Old Building, Youth Study Center | New Orleans, Louisiana 2009 |
Parole Hearing Room, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility | Ventura, California 2008 |
Immigration Court Room Poster, Angel's Flight Shelter | Los Angeles, California 2008 |
Detention Center, Fairbanks Youth Facility | Fairbanks, Alaska 2010 |
Kapolei Court Complex & Secure Detention | Kapolei, Hawaii 2009 |
Yu'pik Boy, Mclaughlin Youth Center | Anchorage, Alaska 2010 |
Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center, Golden, Colorado 2010 K, age 17, has been in the system since he was 11 for his constant aggressive and rebellious tendencies. He has been at the Center for 10 months and has 3-4 months more to go. |
New Beginnings Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility | Washington D.C. 2009 |
Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center | Biloxi, Mississippi 2009 |
Giddings State School | Giddings, Texas 2008 |
Bluett School | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility | Kailua, Hawaii 2009 |
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Facilities | Santa Barbara, California 2008 |
Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center | San Leandro, California 2009 |
Bluett School | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
King County detention, Seattle, WA |
Philadelphia, PA Temporary Detention Center A., age 18, from Puerto Rico, dropped out of school two years ago. He has been here for 3 months on a weapons charge. “I had a gun to defend myself.” This is his first time here. A.‘s mother visits every Monday; he doesn’t have a father. He has brothers aged 14, 17, and 21 and two sisters. A. is part of a program where the family is able to visit if the juvenile is in an honors program. They “share feelings” — A. has apologized for the pain he has caused his family. A’s younger brother cried when he described how much he misses A. The director said it was one of the most moving events in his 29 years there. |
St. Louis Detention Center | St. Louis, Missouri 2009 |
Philadelphia, PA Temporary Detention Center |
Lucy the Therapy Dog | Washoe County, Nevada 2010 Lucy, a Newfoundland, and trained therapy dog who works with a therapist. |
South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit | Franklin County, Pennsylvania 2010 Age 18, Muslim, has been at South Mountain for 15 months, has a H.S diploma and a tattoo on his forearm of Scarface with the words “Fuck You- Pay Me.” He is in for possession of firearms. |
Urine Analysis Cups | Washoe County, Nevada 2010 |
Loysville, PA Youth Development Center |
Spofford, Bronx NY Sc. to Close 9/1/10 |