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Children

Illustration by Dola Sun
Life Inside
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
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.
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
A photo shows a woman with medium skin tone and black hair with her head turned toward an open red door. She holds an infant in one arm.
News March 2
The Harrowing Journey Home for Families Leaving Immigration Detention
Parents and children from a detention center in Texas found themselves dropped at a border town shelter with few means to leave.
By , and
Analysis January 29
‘Why Is This Happening to Us?’ Daily Number of Kids in ICE Detention Jumps 6x Under Trump
As the Trump administration detains large numbers of kids, advocates worry ‘it’s only a matter of time before we see a child die.’
By and
An aerial photo shows the campus of a residential treatment facility with a light green roof during sunset. The facility is surrounded by forest and hills.
Cleveland November 6, 2025
‘It Was Chaos’: How an Ohio Youth Treatment Center Tried to Put an End to Rising Violence
A year after taking over Mohican Young Star Academy, new owners and leadership face questions from workers, police and neighbors about its direction.
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