On our most recent field work (Monday January 16th, 2015), the amazing photographer Steve Liss and our group Skyped. We said hi and looked at some of his photos and told each other we would stay in contact. However, when we talked to him this time around, we learned a lot. He started by heading out to Laredo, Texas, where he stayed for  two years, hoping to write a book on the juvenile detention center over there (which he ultimately did, it is called No Place for Children: Voices fromJuvenile Detention). Once there, he went to a nearby detention center, where he would be taking notes and photographs constantly, never missing a moment. He became friends with some of the guards there, and was well known. However, things were not as cheery as they sound now. He spoke of fights and riots. He says there was a time where they had to keep him out of the center for a while for a serious riot. There were also tales of attempted suicide. There was one girl who he spoke to who tried to kill herself by slitting her wrist (as shown below). Afterwards, when asked about what she was feeling, she claimed that she wished she really did die. This is a very serious topic. These kids need help and counseling, because throwing them in prisons clearly isn’t helping. We hope to meet up with Steve Liss again. He was awesome and offered us his help.

Photo taken by Steve Liss