Photos by Jeffrey Pierre.
Jeffrey Pierre/Contributing Writer
As a photojournalist and writer, Professor Richard Ross of the University of California has had an extensive career covering and sharing stories dealing with various issues and topics.
Ross visited Biscayne Bay Campus on Nov. 21 to speak to students, most of whom were aspiring journalists, to share the stories of the incarcerated youths in America and expose the common practice of their mistreatment from his latest project “Juvenile in Justice.”
Ross, whose photographic work has been featured throughout publications such as Time Magazine, Newsweek, Mother Jones, and Harper’s Magazine received significant recognition for his body of work “Architecture of Authority,” which was published as a monograph by Aperture Foundation in 2007.
In Ross’s latest project “Juvenile in Justice”, he documented the placement and treatment of American juveniles housed by law in facilities that “treat, confine, punish, assist and occasionally harm them,” as he explained.
But even more, he conducts an in-depth examination of the U.S. juvenile justice system. Through his project, Ross has documented over 100 facilities in 30 states.
“I’m not a judge and I’m not a probation officer, I’m an artist and I’m a human being,” said Ross explaining his role throughout his journey. “I want to use my art as a weapon.”
Throughout his lecture, Ross provided the audience with powerful imagery depicting countless juveniles, each of whom he creatively conceals the identities of, to expose the failures of the system to help the misguided youth in this country. Each image often shows a teenage boy or girl alone and inside a large holding cell simply standing, sitting or hiding away. He leaves the audience with horrifying facts regarding the juveniles who find themselves incarcerated.
According to Ross, 88 percent of kids are brought in for non-violent crimes are put in direct contact with violent offenders.
Ross tells stories like of a girl in Caldwell, Idaho who abused methamphetamines, was a truant and was put in jail rather than a proper place where she could receive help and rehabilitation.
“What’s a good solution for a drug abuser that doesn’t go to high school? Let’s hold her in jail,” Ross said sarcastically. “Do you give her drug counseling or adequate schooling? No.”
Ross goes on to explain that since the mid-1980s, American youths have been portrayed by the media as “wild teenagers” to create attractive stories that sell newspapers and magazines. He even states that the population of kids held in youth prisons has declined since 1996, but the rate of mass incarceration is still on the rise.
“I want you to realize that this is you,” Ross said. “These are your kids, you know these kids, treat them with some dignity and respect.”
Students like Serena Jimenez, a journalism senior and substitute teacher who often works with kids, spoke very highly of Ross and his lecture.
“I just stumbled in here and I’m glad I did,” said Jimenez, “I had no idea kids were being railroaded into the justice system like this.”
Moses Shumow, School of Journalism and Mass Communication professor, hosted Ross and stressed the importance of his work.
[pullquote]“It’s a great example of how mass communications can advocate important social topics,” said Shumow.[/pullquote]
Ross plans to continue the project and is currently working on two books relating to the topic of juvenile injustice. He tries to encourage students to share his stories and even take on projects of their own.
“I can make a picture. I know how to write. I can create a movement; that’s what I said seven years ago: ‘I’m going to create a movement,’ but I’m still one person,” Ross said.
-bbc@fiusm.com
About Post Author
