Eman Mohammed

Photojournalist+Senior TED fellow

emanmohammed.com

Babies behind bars

Focus: Photojournalist, Journalist, Travel, Documentary, Photography, Portraiture, Lifestyle, Events, Art, Culture, International News, Arts & Culture, Journalist Investigative, Civil Rights and Social Inequality, Life, Assignments, Commercial, Human Rights, International, Artist, Digital Editor, Storyteller, Feature Journalist, Opinion Journalism, Arts Journalism, Digital Journalism, War, Feature Stories, International Stories, Still Photographer, US Politics, Digital Media, Artistic, Breaking News

Clients: NPR, WSJ, Buzzfeed, Lemonde, The Guardian

Charlee Hamilton (1 yr) is stan...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Charlee Hamilton (1 yr) is standing by the window in her daycare classroom, waiting for her mother to come back from work and pick her up. Charlee spends every day at the in-prison daycare while her Mother, Katie Hamilton, goes to work with the TRAC program at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Krishan (R),2 yr and Charlee (L...on their lunch break.

Krishan (R),2 yr and Charlee (L) 1yr taking a walk with their teacher outside the prison's daycare at the women's residential parenting program at Washington correctional center in Gig Harbor. The daycare teachers at the Women's RPP take the children on a daily walk around the center where they see their mothers at work and stop to say hello to them while they're on their lunch break.

Inmates using the pay phone boo...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Inmates using the pay phone booth outside the Women's residential parenting building at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Correctional officers counting ...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Correctional officers counting the female inamtes at the Women's residential parenting program in Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Daidre Kimp holding her daughte...residential parenting building.

Daidre Kimp holding her daughter Stella (8 mo )as she falls asleep inside her cell at the Women's residential parenting building.

Deidre Kimp is cleaning the rec... while they finish their tasks.

Deidre Kimp is cleaning the recreational room at Washington's correctional center's Women's residential parenting building. Inmates are scheduled to do a set of chores every night as part of their daily schedule. Caregivers are available to volunteer to watch the inmate's children while they finish their tasks.

Crystal Lansdale getting her so...and taking off to work at TRAC.

Crystal Lansdale getting her son ready before dropping him off at the in-prison daycare and taking off to work at TRAC.

Deidre Kimp Standing in line at the cafeteria for breakfast.

Deidre Kimp saying goodbye to h...enter in Gig Harbor Washington.

Deidre Kimp saying goodbye to her daughter Stella (8 mo) while dropping her off at the in-prison daycare at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor Washington.

a female inmate walking between...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

a female inmate walking between flower beds at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

female Inmates practicing on a ...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

female Inmates practicing on a skills test as part of the TRAC program at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Crystal Lansdale carrying concr...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Crystal Lansdale carrying concrete blocks during a practice at TRAC workshop in Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A female inmate is eating a sna...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A female inmate is eating a snack inside a maximum security unit at the Washington women's correction center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A kindergarten teacher is playi...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A kindergarten teacher is playing with babies at Washington correctional center's daycare for working female inmates at the center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

(R) A group of inmates having l...ton. Photo by Eman Mohammed/NPR

(R) A group of inmates having lunch inside the cafeteria, (L) a correctional officer randomly frisking an inmate at the Women's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington. Photo by Eman Mohammed/NPR

Deidre Kimp and Crystal Lansdal...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Deidre Kimp and Crystal Lansdale pushing their children in strollers outside the Women's residential parenting building at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A female inmate holding her new...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A female inmate holding her newborn baby at Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

A small size mural reading &...enter in Gig Harbor,Washington.

A small size mural reading " Free America, Unlock our potential." inside the Women's correctional center in Gig Harbor,Washington.

Katie Hamilton is holding her o...le for other inmates.

Katie Hamilton is holding her one-year-old daughter, Charlee, while on a lunch break from her work with the TRAC program at Washington Correctional Center. Inmates who are part of the Residential Parenting Program join TRAC to gain hands-on job experience. They are also held to a higher behavioral standard to set an example for other inmates.

a correctional officer randomly...rectional center in Gig Harbor.

a correctional officer randomly pats down a female inmate outside the Women's residential parenting building in Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor.

Crystal Lansdale shows her son ...'s correctional center.

Crystal Lansdale shows her son Krishan (2) how to brush his teeth while having a bath in a shared bathroom at the Women's residential parenting building in Washington's correctional center.

Krishan (2) having a bath in a ...'s correctional center.

Krishan (2) having a bath in a shared bathroom at the Women's residential parenting building in Washington's correctional center.

Razor wire-topped fences surrou...nter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Razor wire-topped fences surrounding the maximum security building at the women's correction center in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Toddler's crafts and ph...'s correctional center.

Toddler's crafts and photos are hanging on one of the in-prison daycare walls at Washington's correctional center.

Ashley Templeman, Clerk and car...privation and other challenges.

Ashley Templeman, Clerk and caregiver at the Residential parenting program, holding a photo of her and her daughter, who had been previously a resident at the RPP program. Ashley had been released and re-incarcerated soon after. The caregiver's role in the RPP program is to relieve new mothers who struggle with sleep deprivation and other challenges.

Stella Carter in her crib shortly after waking up in the morning.

Daidre Kimp dressing her daught...rectional center in Gig Harbor.

Daidre Kimp dressing her daughter Stella while getting her ready before taking off to work at the Washington's correctional center in Gig Harbor.

Crystal Lansdale laying in bed ...'s correctional center.

Crystal Lansdale laying in bed with her son Krishan while reading him a bed time story inside her cell at the Women's residential parenting building in Washington's correctional center.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of Charlee Hamilton (1 yr) is stand_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of Krishan (R),2 yr and Charlee (L)_ on their lunch break.

Thumbnail of Inmates using the pay phone boot_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of Correctional officers counting t_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of Daidre Kimp holding her daughter_ residential parenting building.

Thumbnail of Deidre Kimp is cleaning the recr_n while they finish their tasks.

Thumbnail of Crystal Lansdale getting her son_ and taking off to work at TRAC.

Thumbnail of Deidre Kimp Standing in line at the cafeteria for breakfast.

Thumbnail of Deidre Kimp saying goodbye to he_center in Gig Harbor Washington.

Thumbnail of a female inmate walking between _enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of female Inmates practicing on a s_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of Crystal Lansdale carrying concre_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of A female inmate is eating a snac_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of A kindergarten teacher is playin_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of (R) A group of inmates having lu_gton. Photo by Eman Mohammed/NPR

Thumbnail of Deidre Kimp and Crystal Lansdale_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of A female inmate holding her newb_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of A small size mural reading &_center in Gig Harbor,Washington.

Thumbnail of Katie Hamilton is holding her on_ple for other inmates.

Thumbnail of a correctional officer randomly _rrectional center in Gig Harbor.

Thumbnail of Crystal Lansdale shows her son K_n's correctional center.

Thumbnail of Krishan (2) having a bath in a s_n's correctional center.

Thumbnail of Razor wire-topped fences surroun_enter in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Thumbnail of Toddler's crafts and pho_n's correctional center.

Thumbnail of Ashley Templeman, Clerk and care_eprivation and other challenges.

Thumbnail of Stella Carter in her crib shortly after waking up in the morning.

Thumbnail of Daidre Kimp dressing her daughte_rrectional center in Gig Harbor.

Thumbnail of Crystal Lansdale laying in bed w_n's correctional center.

Public Project

Babies behind bars

Copyright Eman Mohammed 2025

Updated Dec 2018

Topics Arrests and Prosecutions, Children, Civil Rights, Community, Crime, Culture stories, Documentary, Education, Feature, Hope, Investigation, Journalism, News, Parenting & Family, Perspectives, Photography, Photojournalism, Policy Change, Portraiture, Pregnancy/Birth, Prison, Reporting, Social Justice, Womens Rights

Programs Help Incarcerated Moms Bond With Their Babies In Prison
Nearly a dozen states run programs that allow women serving prison terms to keep their babies with them for a limited time. Supporters say the programs help women inmates turn their lives around.
Npr.org

'Changing The Mindset': Female Inmates In Training For A Life After Prison
It is difficult to find work if you've been incarcerated. Outside Seattle, one women's prison is trying to give inmates a better chance by training some of them for nontraditional jobs.
Npr.org

Aug 18, 2021

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