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L, age 17, Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility, Ventura, California
Juvenile-In-Justice by Richard Ross “I’ve been here 13 times. This time I’ve been in for 5 days for disturbing the peace, and providing false information to an officer. Basically I just read in here. All the time. I am reading Jodi Picoult, Harry Potter, and the last book in the Twilight series.” Photography: […]
M and A, Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility, Ventura, California
Juvenile-In-Justice by Richard Ross “Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility – Boys Pre-Adjudication Detention pod. M, left, age 17, has been here seven months for Grand Theft Auto. A, at right, age 15, has been in for 6 days for drinking and said that he had been at the facility 6 or 7 times before.” […]
P.P, age 17, Burnett-Bayland Reception Center, Houston, Texas
“I am going to be 18 in two weeks, I’ve been here for a year and a month for criminal trespassing as well as sex offenses.”
J.J, age 17, Macon Youth Development Campus, Macon, Georgia
“I got my G.E.D a year and a half ago, I have matured a lot mentally. I’m looking forward instead of looking back. When released, I will probably stay with my dad and might go into military.”
A.J, Age 20, Betty K. Marler Youth Child Care Center, Denver, Colorado
“I’ve been at Marler for two years. Now I live in my own apartment inside Marler…. I’m here for 2 charges of aggravated assault and one felony. I spent a lot of time hanging around gang members and drug dealing. Now I have to take responsibility for me.”
S, age 15, Lemon Grove Facility, San Diego, CA
“I am from Guatemala. I was picked up near the border and brought in a van to the shelter. Only a few kids can stay here, the rest of us will be deported unless our family can come for us.”
B.M, age 16, Burnaby Youth Custody Services Center, British Columbia, Canada
“I got punched by another kid. I was cheaped. I’ve been punched before so I didn’t press any charges. I have no family. I get visited by the Aboriginal Protection and Safety Organization and the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome people.”
R.F, age 17, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Miami, FL
“I was 13 when I committed my crime. I have been here for three and a half years… I haven’t gone to trial yet. I’m being tried as an adult, looking at 30 years to life.”
H, age 15, Bass Group Home, Lyons, Mississippi
“I wanna play basketball or join the army. I wear this badge for my dad, he died in Iraq.”
C, age 16, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, New York
“I’m from the Bronx. I did five months at Riker’s Island [when Spofford was under construction]. I’m hoping to get 3 months in upstate secure detention and then bounce.”