Over the last five years, photographer Richard Ross has visited over 100 juvenile detention centers in 30 states. He has produced over 1,000 photographs chronicling the state of the juvenile justice system, and telling of the story of these kids behind bars.
Without displaying any faces, Ross is able to convey the frustration and hopelessness of his subjects. The objective, he says, is to enable “organizations that have better data and more skills at advocating for policy change than I do. I hope this will better arm them to show a human side to their statistics.”
The PBS show Newshour recently featured an interview with Ross, including many of his photographs. An article on National Public Radio’s website also features his work.
Prison Fellowship’s mission to seek the transformation of prisoners through the power and truth of Jesus Christ is just as relevant to those in juvenile facilities as it is to those inmates in adult prisons. By parterning with other outreach ministries through Operation Starting Line, Prison Fellowship is able to shine a light in these dark corridors, offering His grace and peace.
May we never tire of offering the hope we have to the hopeless, knowing that God has the ability reconcile these young offenders to their communities, their families, and to Himself.