13,000 children in prison...

right now in Mexico - with devastating effects on their lives. Kids who spend time in prison are twice as likely to drop out of school, use drugs and commit suicide compared to kids in alternative programs. In Mexico, three quarters of the children in prison are abused or beaten by officials, held in solitary confinement and shackled for days at a time. Many centers lack medical services, education, and even basic sanitation.
Children who have been imprisoned are the most likely to become criminals as adults. Many are recruited into gangs while in prison, increasing crime and exacerbating social insecurity—something countries like Mexico can ill-afford. Excessive juvenile detention doesn't make us safer.
Each Child Has A Story...

20 Hours
Teenages kept 20 hours a day in their cell, just a few hours a week for school and recreation, the rest of the day in a cement room.

Oscar's Story
He was so ashamed he couldn't even look at me. Oscar's story is typical of how many children get lost in the system.

Poor and in Prison
Rich kids don't go to prison. Poor kids can't seem to get out.

Father and Son
A father visits his son in detention. If his wife hadn't died, his son might not be in prison.

The Family
Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all came to visiting day to see their two children.

An Unlikely Happy Ending
With no family and no money, Sara was unlikely to be granted release. Thanks to Casa Alianza, her story has a happy ending.
This weekend, a mother saw her son for the first time in three years

This past weekend, we started our monthly “Family Reunification” project for children in prison in Chihuahua state. Olivia Meneses, our project director, worked with the prison´s list of four teenagers who have not had visitors for months. They all live at least three hours outside the city and come from…
Delivering Care Packages in Ciudad Juárez
2016 Annual Celebration – Image Gallery

This gallery contains 35 photos.
Our 2016 Annual Celebration at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sharing our successes of the past year and plans for the future, supporters, friends and family gathered to ensure that our work can continue into the future. Thanks everyone who came!