“I had my own run-ins with the law; a lot of the people that I’m photographing now, I see myself in them and I think, ‘The only difference is you didn’t get out and I did,’” Mr. Frank said. “Being able to not only tell these stories through my own lens, but also help people visually tell their own experiences with the criminal justice system, has been one of the highlights of my career.”

In the following essay, Mr. Frank reflects on his experiences inside and outside the system.

— David Gonzalez

My eyes opened to the flat, gray light of dawn. Between sleep and reality, I got up and put my feet to the floor. Cold concrete. I moved toward the small window in the door, hoping for a way out, but there was none. I pounded the wall. It was only when I snapped a bone in my hand that I realized I wasn’t in a bad dream. The pain was real.