3rd place
bronze star award
Polina Soyref
russian federation 
title
Daily life in a youth detention center for boys in Northern Russia
Since the 2000s, Russia saw the move to more of a dedicated justice system for minors, one supposedly based on Western ideas about juvenile justice. In practice, this led to a large growth of suspended sentences, while no system of rehabilitation or support was created for those receiving them. The population of youth detention centers dropped from 20,000 in 1997 to around 800 currently. Many teenagers continue to commit crimes after their first suspended sentence. Once they turn 18, they receive a real sentence after their next crime. According to official data from 2022, there are 39, 000 prisoners aged 18-25.
In the Arkhangelsk youth detention center boys go to school (it's obligatory) and can learn skills and receive professional education in a vocational college (both the school and the college are on-site). They have access to sports, musical instruments, a library, a theater studio and chess tournaments. Volunteers often visit to help with teaching or to help the boys socialize.
Many of the boys committed their crimes for money or because of peer pressure. Most came from small cities and dysfunctional families. Most express remorse and say they don’t want to be in prison again, but a few do say that they want to go on to adult prison. One boy mentioned to me that he stopped smoking after smoking since the age of 8 and does not want to start again.
All pictures taken on film.
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entry description
This youth detention center is located in the Arkhangelsk region and can host 181 inmates aged 14-18, but currently hosts around 70. Most of them are sentenced for drug-related offenses, but a few have committed robberies, car thefts, or even rape or murder. I spent a week there as part of a group of volunteer instructors organizing a summer camp.Since the 2000s, Russia saw the move to more of a dedicated justice system for minors, one supposedly based on Western ideas about juvenile justice. In practice, this led to a large growth of suspended sentences, while no system of rehabilitation or support was created for those receiving them. The population of youth detention centers dropped from 20,000 in 1997 to around 800 currently. Many teenagers continue to commit crimes after their first suspended sentence. Once they turn 18, they receive a real sentence after their next crime. According to official data from 2022, there are 39, 000 prisoners aged 18-25.
In the Arkhangelsk youth detention center boys go to school (it's obligatory) and can learn skills and receive professional education in a vocational college (both the school and the college are on-site). They have access to sports, musical instruments, a library, a theater studio and chess tournaments. Volunteers often visit to help with teaching or to help the boys socialize.
Many of the boys committed their crimes for money or because of peer pressure. Most came from small cities and dysfunctional families. Most express remorse and say they don’t want to be in prison again, but a few do say that they want to go on to adult prison. One boy mentioned to me that he stopped smoking after smoking since the age of 8 and does not want to start again.
All pictures taken on film.
about the photographer
Polina Soyref is a photographer, born in Russia and currently living and working there. In her pictures, she explores the relationship between people and their experiences, the environment, time, and memory. She works mostly with film and combines documentary and fine art photography. She also works in the field of social journalism.back to gallery
