A couple weeks ago we brought you news that R.F, a young man who had been in custody in Miami awaiting trial for nearly 5 years, had finally been sentenced and charged. I first met R.F photographing inside Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he had been incarcerated since the age of 14. After that initial visit, we stayed in touch, and R.F eventually sent me a copy of the manuscript he had been writing about his childhood and life up to that point. There is something to be said about such a young life already having over 100 pages worth of stories to tell. Being in touch with R.F also meant being in touch with Gale Lewis, his public defender and a talented, passionate, immensely hard-working woman. Since the news that R.F’s case is finally moving forward, I recorded … Read More »

After nearly five years awaiting trial in Miami’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, R.F’s case is finally moving forward (Read about R.F’s case history HERE) The youngest of his co-defendants, R.F recently took a deal for a minimum of 18 months (maximum of 36 months) in a juvenile facility. His older co-defendants all took deals between 20 and 30 years. R.F was able to plead down to a non-sexual offense, so he won’t have a sex offender charge on his record. In the next month or so he will be transferred to a youth treatment facility in Okeechobee, Florida, 140 miles of Miami. As part of the deal, after his release he will be on adult probation for ten years… which is going to be pretty tough. R.F was taken into custody when he was 14 years old. At the earliest, … Read More »

Last month we caught up with R.F, who has spent four years and three months in detention awaiting trial (R.F Update: Four Years and Three Months Without Trial). In his conversation with Ross, R.F stated, “sometimes being locked up is like already being dead ’cause you don’t really have no control over your life. You look at it… you got people telling you what to do, when to do it, how to do it, when to go the bathroom, when to eat… that’s one of the things I thought about when I was being in my room.”
 
Today marks R.F’s 18th birthday and his transition from the juvenile to the adult wing of Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Florida. According to R.F he was moved last night at midnight. This weekend, Ross will be traveling to Miami to … Read More »

At the end of August, Ross interviewed R.F. to check in, find out the status of his fifty-one month court case, and see what he’s done with all those hours in juvenile detention. Listen to R.F. explain what he’s facing over four years after his arrest at 13 in his own words. Below are links to audio clips of the interview.

From Arrival To Lockdown: R.F. discusses his arrival at TGK at age 13

Transitioning To Adult Prison: R.F.’s views on his upcoming transition to the adult wing

Preparation For The Outside: R.F.’s thoughts on returning to the outside, and how he’s prepared while locked up

“I’ve been here for 3 years and 8 months and haven’t been to trial yet. I came in when I was 13.”

-R.F. age 17, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Miami, Florida

This is the first of an on-going series of posts about a young man being held at TGK in Miami. We will post about him once a month and explain his story: the charges against him, the history, circumstances, as well as interviews with his mother, the assistant public defender, and the young man himself.