GIRLS
IN
JUSTICE
Read about the Girls-in-Justice project here.
This is my third time here. First time, I was 14, in for prostitution. I got pregnant when I was 14. I was in eighth grade, but that’s the last I went to school. We were having money issues at home. I started meeting people for sex, for money. It was the life. When I was 15, and 7 months pregnant, my dad molested me. He used to beat my mom. I was the youngest, and I would forgive him. He took me to his friend’s house and would give me to his friends. They incarcerated him for possession, not rape. Me, they picked up 3 different times. They say I’m a victim. I wish they treated me like that. I have goals. When you don’t have food at home, and your baby needs things, what do I turn to, you know?
B.Q., AGE 17
Nobody comes to visit me here. Nobody. I have been here for eight months. There are no charges against me. I’m here because I am a material witness and I ran away a lot. I’m refusing all my visits because I am tired of being lied to.
B.B., AGE 17
I’m eight months pregnant. It’s exciting, but really scary. My sisters both have kids. I was running away to my boyfriend’s in XXXX. He’s a junior. I always felt I needed him to be loved and to help out. My only crime was running away. And I’ve been here more than nine times. I’ve been here two weeks. I was very selfish for not thinking of the baby. CPS says they’re going to take the baby away but I’m going to fight for her. My mother and sisters visit. My dad died six years ago. They shot him 18 times. He died when I was 10. I’ve been messing up since then. I was doing a lot of drugs when I was first pregnant but now I’ve been sober for four months. This unit is the drug treatment unit.
C.M., AGE 16
This is my seventh time here. Sometimes it was probation violation, fighting at school, drug violations—weed and meth. My mom’s not in the picture. My dad was in jail until I was 12. I’m affiliated. I got jumped in. Sometimes you have to go on different missions. I should be in 11th grade, but I dropped out in eighth grade.My family’s uncontrollable. My five uncles—three are in jail for murder, two for attempted murder. My aunts are in for 211—deadly weapons. I’ve got one brother fighting murder, another brother in and out of juvie. They’re all dope related, they’re all in the gang… My family is the gang. When you lead this life and you’re on the outs, you just count your days, because that’s where it leads you.
L.V., AGE 16
I'm from the projects. I’ve been living on the streets or I sleep in the projects with my homies. When I was on the street, we all didn’t have a place to stay, so we would all look out for each other. We were hustlers. Make our money by selling weed. My mom was deported when I was 5, then I lived with my dad till I was 12, and then he was deported. I have a brother who’s 19 in jail, and a sister who’s 15 in placement. I was living in foster homes after 5. My dad would abuse us before I was 12. He would talk shit to us, make us feel bad, and hit us. I been in 15 different DCFS and probation placements. I’m 5 months pregnant. It feels good, and scary. Placement will help me with my baby. When I get out, maybe I’ll be a cosmetologist or a psychologist.
N.K., AGE 16