This was by far one of the most difficult things I have ever photographed, for numerous reasons. It had nothing to do with the fact that I could not show any of the girls faces as they were all under the age of 18.
“Ninety percent have been physically and/or sexually abused. The average age of first abuse is 9.83 years.” Superintendent
"They are little girls who have done grown up things, we are trying to get them back to being little girls again." Warden
The below was written by one of the girls.
Prison Life
Handcuffs and chains
and bars of steel
make this place so very real.
The keys jingle
and the doors close
locking me inside this life I chose.
I've made mistakes and for those I've paid
but for now I must hope the pain will fade.
Family and friends
are in the past
as I look upon the emptiness so vast.
The world goes on without a second glance
knowing that I blew my very last chance.
So here I cry
Trapped in time
and it's all because
I committed a crime
by Kim H.