Cassandra Giraldo

Photojournalist

www.cassandragiraldo.com

Today Was A Good Day | Marshall Project

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"Today Was A Good Day" | Photo Assignment for The Marshall Project, Published in 2019. Full story here.

Tammara McCoy, who is currently...amp;rsquo;s 4-year-old, Truly.

Tammara McCoy, who is currently serving her time at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, posed for a portrait with her daughter, Tayla Escobar, her sons, Timeek McCoy and Tasir Brown, and Tayla’s 4-year-old, Truly.

Tayla and Truly boarded a schoo...Bronx, every seat was occupied.

Tayla and Truly boarded a school bus at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal at 6:40 a.m. By the end of the two-hour ride, which included a stop in the Bronx, every seat was occupied.

The trip was free for family me...ated people and their families.

The trip was free for family members and organized by Hour Children, a non-profit that focuses on incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families.

Truly slept on her mother&r...s traveled to upstate New York.

Truly slept on her mother’s lap most of the way to the facility. Rain fell steadily as the bus traveled to upstate New York.

Tayla visits her mother with Tr... all of that behind.”

Tayla visits her mother with Truly about once a month. “It’s always exciting to see her,” said Tayla. “We have our own problems out in the real world. When you go in there, you leave all of that behind.”

Bedford Hills currently houses 690 women.

Tayla signed in at the facility...quipment with wi-fi capability.

Tayla signed in at the facility’s family center. Along with their time in the security line, Tayla and Truly waited about 30 minutes to get in. Visitors are not allowed to bring in cell phones, smartwatches, laptops and other equipment with wi-fi capability.

Truly sat on her grandmother&am...rsquo;s the hardest.”

Truly sat on her grandmother’s lap in the gymnasium of the prison. “Every time I get to see them is special,” said Tammara. “Every time I don’t see them, it’s the hardest.”

Tasir, 19, held onto his mother...y competing in a dance contest.

Tasir, 19, held onto his mother as they watched Truly competing in a dance contest.

Tables were decorated and lunch...the parents for their children.

Tables were decorated and lunch was served at the holiday event. Donors provided gifts picked by the parents for their children.

Tammara’s family stay...the four-and-a-half hour visit.

Tammara’s family stayed close to each other throughout the four-and-a-half hour visit.

Tammara said goodbye to her old...mp;rsquo;t seen in three years.

Tammara said goodbye to her oldest son, Timeek, whom she hadn’t seen in three years.

Mother and daughter have a mome...ep that family bond.”

Mother and daughter have a moment after leaving the building. “Now that I’m an adult, it’s hard to visit my mom because I work. I go to school. I’m a single mom,” said Tayla. “But everything that my mom has done in this prison is to make sure that she keeps in contact. She stretches out her arms to make sure that she can keep that family bond.”