In A Whole New Way: Undoing Mass Incarceration by a Path Untraveled

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This photographic self-portrait features New Yorkers on probation, shedding light on a “second-chance” justice intervention that has evolved since its inception in 1841 Boston. If all Americans on probation were gathered, they would form the third-largest city in the U.S., yet the complexities of this sanction remain largely misunderstood. Originally intended as a rehabilitative measure, probation shifted to a punitive approach during the 1972–92 crime wave, often serving as a precursor to incarceration rather than an alternative. This project showcases the efforts of determined city residents and their allies who, armed with cameras and new artistic perspectives from the nonprofit Seeing for Ourselves, aimed to reform probation back to its original rehabilitative purpose. Their journey resulted in a unique collection of striking photographs accompanied by personal captions and testimonies that reveal the realities of life on probation. These narratives challenge the negative stereotypes associated with both the individuals involved and the probation system itself. The overarching goal is to advocate for a reformed justice system focused on decarceration. This work follows the editors’ previous Project Lives (2015) and serves as the basis for an award-winning documentary airing on select public television stations in 2023.