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Illustration by Dola Sun
Cleveland
It Was Supposed to Be a Haven for Troubled Teens. They Risked Everything to Escape.
At Fox Run, one of Ohio’s largest youth residential treatment centers, kids and former staff detail a litany of trauma.
By and
Clockwise from top left: A photo shows a White woman with long blue hair, wearing a blue T-shirt, standing in front of a white building; a black-and-white photo shows a one-story building with a dark roof and the shadows of trees visible on its side; a photo shows a Mexican American woman in a blue top and black pants standing on the grass in front of some leafy trees; a photo framed through a car window shows a green sign saying “Fox Run.”
The Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents in Ohio’s Belmont County.
Get Involved July 30
Were You Abused or Neglected in Youth Residential Treatment? We Want to Hear From You.
Help our team continue reporting on dangerous conditions in these facilities. We may also connect you with a journalist in your community.
By
An illustration shows a White man with a beard sitting on a picnic blanket with two people sitting near him. He is having a flashback to his time as a teen in youth detention, which is visualized as a series of transparent versions of his younger self, next to his adult self. In the background are small figures of children playing.
Life Inside July 24
I Spent 78 Days in a Violent Youth Jail. I Have PTSD for Life.
Vivid flashbacks, extreme anxiety and feelings of isolation continue to plague me 22 years later.
By Joey Heilman
A blue-toned illustration shows an umbilical cord turning into a telephone cord, the eyes of a middle-aged man and the eyes of a young woman. Inside the man’s pupils is a Black man smiling at a baby. Inside the young woman’s pupils is the figure of a man leaving through a doorway.
Life Inside June 19
I Tried to Protect My Oldest Daughter From Pain. I Didn’t Think I Would Be the Source of It.
“I saw every evil thing lurking from afar. What I didn’t see was that my own behavior problems and my toxic masculinity could cause damage.”
By
Sending Kites June 16
How to Parent From Prison
Incarcerated people from around the country share their advice.
By and
News June 9
25 Babies and Toddlers Are in ICE Custody on an Average Day
On an average day under Trump, ICE has 25 children aged 3 or younger in custody. In total, at least 500 babies and toddlers have been detained.
By , , Kay Guerrero and Jacob Soboroff
Redemption Songs May 10
A Prison Lullaby for Mother’s Day
Krystal Lowe wrote and recorded this song for her 2-year-old in a Kansas prison. Instead of baby talk, she urges her daughter to know her worth.
By
An illustration shows the head and shoulders of Kwaneta Harris, a Black woman with long hair. She is wearing a white shirt, and several images surround her. Clockwise from the bottom left are: a child on the phone, some pink flowers, a flower with petals made of newspaper articles and letters, another young person on the phone, and a window with a white lace curtain. Birds are visible through the window. The background of the illustration is peach-colored.
Life Inside May 8
For This Mom in Prison, Mother’s Day Is a Blessing and a Curse
Kwaneta Harris has missed every single Mother’s Day with her 19-year-old. That means walking on eggshells, icy politeness and the occasional mom joke.
By Kwaneta Harris
A photo shows a man with medium-toned skin, wearing a baseball cap and a plaid shirt, holding a sign that says, “Save the Kids.” He stands among other protesters who are holding signs. A low bluish building with a gray roof is behind them.
Analysis April 6
ICE Has Detained 6,200+ Kids in Trump’s Second Term, Up 10x Since Biden Left Office
Advocates warn trauma from detentions will cause kids lifelong damage.
By and
A photo of a man in an orange safety vest greeting another man in a black shirt. Both men have a medium skin tone and beards.
Life Inside April 3
Mario Monteiro Was Incarcerated at 17. Gardening Helped Him Survive 23 Years.
“Each sprout was a quiet victory,” writes the tree steward. “Each harvest was a reminder that even in unexpected places, growth was possible.”
By Mario Monteiro
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