America's forgotten prisoners
A photographer steps into a women's prison in Texas to meet those caught in the crossfire of the war on drugs
Nancy Ferneau: sentenced to 25 years in 2003 for conspiracy to sell, manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Feneau is 65 years old and has two daughters.
(Wes Bruer)
Nancy Ferneau.
(Wes Bruer)The vast majority of these women are serving time for non-violent drug offenses — many under mandatory minimum sentences for low-level offenders enacted during President Reagan's e
Rita Becerra: sentenced to 27 years in 1994 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Becerra, 66, has one son, one daughter, and four grandchildren. Her clemency petition was denied in 2016. This was her first offense.
(Wes Bruer)While men were often the main targets of the war on drugs, women, particularly women of color, were often collateral damage. Women who were unable or unwilling to provide informati
Sharanda Jones: sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1999 for conspiracy to traffic cocaine. This was her first offense. Jones was granted clemency by President Obama in 2015.
(Wes Bruer)In 2016, while working at CNN, photojournalist Wes Bruer did a story on one such female prisoner.Sharanda Jones was 32 years old when she was indicted on seven counts of conspiracy
Crystal Munoz: sentenced to 19 years and 10 months in 2007 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Munoz, 38, has two daughters.
(Wes Bruer)
Rose Ella Summers: sentenced to 24 years and four months in 1997 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering. Summers, 47, has one son. This was her first offense.
(Wes Bruer)"As was my impression of Sharanda, every one of these women took me by complete surprise with their positive outlook and kindness considering the injustice that has befallen them a
Deneise Quintanilla: sentenced to to life in 2001 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Quintanilla, 49, has two sons and one daughter. She was granted clemency by President Obama in 2017.
(Wes Bruer)In May 2017, Bruer returned to Carswell, this time to watch one of the women he photographed, Deneise Quintanilla, leave the prison behind after 16 years. In 2001, Quintanilla was
(Wes Bruer)For more on Wes Bruer's prison project, visit Beauty on the Inside. To see more of Bruer's photography, check out his website, or follow him on Instagram or Twitter.
