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Photo Essay: Women in Prison: Photo 4 of 11

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This woman's eyes are wide open but they appear not to see.

She appears to be trying to smile for the photographer. But this is not a happy smile.

I get a feeling as if she has been in captivity for a very long time.

Posted by: Sandra Smallwood-Beltran on 08/04/08 at 10:50 AM  Respond

Geez....it is the look of a crazy inmate. It would really help to see what they were convicted of. I agree that some do not belong, but maybe she chopped her family up? WTF knows...lay off the Prozac.

Posted by: steve on 08/08/08 at 7:28 AM  Respond

Though these woman are in prison, they still are somebody. No one has ever walked a day in their shoes. As parents we try to teach and maybe some of them had bad leaders from the beginning. Lets stop and think, why are they there and who served them as children? Did they have parents, where did they come from and how did they survive? We should always think before we speak.. I had to learn that myself and I'm not locked up!

Posted by: Shannon in Houston on 08/20/08 at 7:20 AM  Respond

She may certainly be due our compassion, and she may also have been frozen by the camera in an uncharacteristic expression. I'm not photogenic, I always come out looking like a thug, so I can extend the benefit of the doubt. But this is a photograph depicting frightening insanity. If anyone ever looks at you like this, you are not safe with them. That doesn't take away from her rights as a human, it just means having nightmares from this image is appropriate.

Posted by: Libby on 08/25/08 at 12:19 PM  Respond

Haunting.

Posted by: Scott on 09/03/08 at 7:25 PM  Respond

This image gives me chills. My intuition is screaming danger, although this woman is in captivity, and although this is just a photograph. Amazing. Frightening!

Insanity.. a gaze of a murderer obsessed and mentally unhealthy. Poor woman probably harmless just with a mad expression

Posted by: Blanka on 10/01/08 at 10:19 PM  Respond

My god. That expression is trapped in time; just as that woman is trapped behind bars...Still? What's more frightening is, the mentally ill people in our lives (that we love) who wear that face on the inside.

Posted by: Neith on 10/03/08 at 7:39 PM  Respond

Yeah, like she needs to be out on the streets! CRAZY.

Posted by: Rick on 10/06/08 at 2:02 PM  Respond

The photograph is brilliant. It's evocative.

As someone who has loved a disturbingly mentally ill person; I want to believe that woman has loved ones.

Consider this...She may have done nothing, but harm herself. Without funds, support, tools, or knowledge; all roads lead to the same place.

Posted by: Neith on 10/08/08 at 9:13 PM  Respond

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