Prisons systematically dehumanise the imprisoned. Visualised through mugshots and surveillance recordings, the incarcerated lose control of their own image and identity. The criminal justice system in the United States does not only carry out so-called justice in ways that compound inequality, it also minimises the possibility for empathetic encounters with those who are most marginalised. It is therefore urgent to understand how prisoners are portrayed by the carceral state and how this might be countered or recuperated. How can understanding the visual representation of prisoners help us confront the invisible forms of power in the American prison system? Ethical Portraits investigates the representation of the incarcerated in the United States criminal justice system, and the state’s failure to represent those incarcerated humanely. Through wide-ranging interviews and creative nonfiction, Hatty Nestor deconstructs the different roles of prison portraiture, such as in courtroom sketches, DNA profiling, and the incarceration of Chelsea Manning.

An estimated 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a mental illness. Those suffering have to face a wall of stigma and stereotyping which often makes their condition worse. Big Brother is an intimate photographic portrait of Louis Quail's older brother, Justin, and his daily struggle with schizophrenia. By showing the person beyond the illness, Big Brother challenges stigma head on. It reveals a system in crisis, but it also discovers important truths on the nature of resilience. At its heart though Big Brother is a love story. The book includes extensive texts to tell Justin's story.