Key Facts

• Photographer Sara Bennett spent over ten years documenting women serving life sentences for homicide in New York.
• The portraits include personal items like Polaroids, letters, and drawings to tell a fuller story.
• Some women have been released after decades in prison and face challenges such as homelessness and health issues.
• Several women describe how they find meaning through faith, work, and caring for others while incarcerated.
• Restrictions in prison, such as not being allowed to hug loved ones during visits, affect their emotional well-being.
• Stories show that these women are more than their crimes and continue to seek hope and change.
• Support services like the Women’s Prison Association provide shelter and assistance after release.
• The article brings attention to the humanity and complexity of women serving long sentences in the U.S. prison system.