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Life behind bars:

Rakeem Ball is one of 75 juvenile detainees at Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro in Murphysboro, Illinois. IYC Murphysboro works with boys ages 14-18 who have repeatedly been in trouble with the law. Ball has been through the program at IYC Murphysboro three times throughout his youth and says he wants this time to be his last. Ball, 18, is now old enough to be recognized by a court as an adult, so IYC Murphysboro offers him one last chance to straighten his life out before a judge sends him to a penitentiary.
“All I’m thinking about is not coming back here,” said Ball, “I want to control my own life.”

: Inmates of the Murphysboro Juvenile Detention Center play basketball during recreation time October 2, 2009.

: Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro juvenile detainee Rakim Ball spends some free time listening to state-issued radio receiver headphones while making his bunk, Oct. 3, 2009. Ball frequently chooses to spend any free time he is given alone rather than interacting with other detainees. “I made a mistake and I’m here to pay for my mistake,” said Ball, “thats all I want to do.”

: Inmates of the Murphysboro Juvenile Detention Center participate in physical training at sunrise on October 2, 2009.

: Inmates of the Murphysboro Juvenile Detention Center participate in physical training at sunrise on October 2, 2009.

: An officer at the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro, Ill. demonstrates to new detainees the proper way to perform an “about face,” or 180 degree counterclockwise turn, in a detention dorm, Oct. 2, 2009.

: An officer at the Murphysboro Juvenile Detention Center reaches to assist an inmate during early morning physical training October 2, 2009.

: An officer at the Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro in Murphysboro, Ill. disciplines juvenile detainees who failed to maintain silence while marching in formation, Oct. 4, 2009.

: Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro juvenile detainee Rakim Ball steps through the dinner line in the dining hall, called the “mess hall,” Oct. 4, 2009. Ball first became involved in gang activity at the age of 12 and has been sentenced to IYC Murphysboro three separate times. “I’m almost 20 years old and this shouldn’t be a place for me,” said Ball. “I just want my mom to be proud because the only thing she gets from me is a phone call from IYC Murphysboro.”

: Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro juvenile detainees eat lunch in silence under close observation from guards, Oct. 3, 2009.

: Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro juvenile detainee Rakim Ball, 19, receives his graduation certificate in the IYC Murphysboro gymnasium, Oct. 5, 2009. “All I’m thinking about is not coming back here,” said Ball. “I want to control my own life.”