Dressed in jumpsuits , hands in cuffs , or locked away in tiny cells , these are the youths held by America 's juvenile justice system . The emotional portraits , taken at three 'school ' facilities around Washington state , show the inmates standing in prison corridors and resting in their rooms - as well as others which simply try to show how they are feeling . All of the subjects have been locked away after sentencing in the state 's juvenile courts , and are part of a project by photographer Steve Davis . Incarcerated : The photo series shows inmates held in Washington state 's juvenile prison system , such as the two men above . Grim : One inmate is pictured above in his room , which features a combination toilet-sink , which seemingly leaks . Bleak surroundings : Photographer Steve Davis visited three school-cum-prison facilities in the state , and photographed inmates and their surroundings . Cuffed : These two prisoners have their wrists and ankles bound in the uncompromising portrait above . However , while Davis , whose images are due to be published in an upcoming book , focused on the prisoners ' human side for his series , he deliberately left out one aspect : their pasts . Each portrait has been left without a label identifying the prisoner , in an attempt to break the link between those depicted and their crimes . He also shows their bleak living conditions , from a stark gym to a deserted exercise yard , to uncomfortable-looking standard-issue single beds . Marketing material for Davis 's book says the intention is that 'the viewer must draw conclusions about each person ’ s past and possible future ... from the simultaneously vast and limited information in each photograph ' . Davis , who took the photographs between 1997 and 2005 , met the subjects through his work as a resident artist in three of Washington 's detention centers , which double as schools . Obscure : Davis made the deliberate decision not to mention the crimes which led to the youths being locked away . No home comforts : The images show bare sleeping , social and exercise space inside the prison system . Prison system : State officials say the juvenile detention centers are a last resort for dangerous youths or those who have no responded to other measures . Around 750 youths a year are sent to juvenile detention facilities in Washington . State information on the system says those sent there have often committed violent crimes or ignored previous punishments . Information from the overseeing Social and Health Services department says : 'These youngsters are typically serious and violent offenders or youth with extensive offense histories who have not responded to local sanctions and interventions . ' Children as young as 12 can be incarcerated , and can stay in the facilities until they are 20 . More than 90 per cent are male . According to data from September 2014 , around two thirds are aged 16-18 . Some 19 per cent are sex offenders , while 54 per cent have been convicted of violent crimes . Robbery , assault , burglary and rape feature prominently among the convictions which led to their incarcerations . Around half have mental health issues . Judgement ? Davis intended his views to draw their own conclusions from the pictures . Grim dunk : This basketball hoop , surrounded by high walls and barbed wire , is an example of the bleak leisure facilities on offer .
Photographer Steve has spent time in Washington sub - schools taking photographs of inmates . He decided not to link pictures of the young inmates to their videos so viewers can ' draw their own pictures '