Ian Moore
Dingding Hu
Jessica Jahnle & Charles Taylor
Jess Jahnle
Detention Center Visit
I would have to say that visiting
the Detention Center in Baltimore was one of the most exciting and interesting
trips we have taken this semester with Visual Journalism. On the drive from MICA over to the detention
center I remember being very nervous. Two
weeks prior to our visit Dr. McCammant came and talked to us, giving us warnings about
what to expect. When we arrived we all
had to walk through metal detectors and be searched. I unfortunately had underwire in my bra and
was not allowed to go through until the supervisor came down and approved
me. This ended up taking almost 45
min. I was just thankful I was not alone
and Shadra was there as well. Because
we had a scheduled visit with a class/group, we were allowed through but the
typical person going in for a visit gets rejected for that day if they do not
make it through the detector after three attempts. It would be devastating if someone went in to
visit a family member or friend but was not able to make it through security. In addition to being nervous this intense
security scared the heck out of me.
After we got through security we walked through many gates and got
visitor passes. We walked into a small
room with tables and chairs with drawings hung up on the walls.
It was very awkward at first, and
the detainees kept on asking us if we were scared or what they had told us
about them. Once we got to talking I
almost forgot that they were locked up.
It was interesting how in the room
there were no clocks or windows and how easy it was to lose all concept of time. I am not even completely sure how much time
we spent in there. Just sitting in that
room for however long we were there for made me anxious I cannot imagine living
there for 3 months – 3 years.
I would definitely like to return
for another visit. After knowing first
hand what to expect I would be more prepared.
Kayla Bickers
Kayla Bickers
Shadra Strickland
