Tammara McCoy, who is currently serving her time at Bedford Hills...READ ON
Tammara McCoy, who is currently serving her time at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, posed for a portrait with her daughter, Tayla Escobar, her sons, Timeek McCoy and Tasir Brown, and Tayla’s 4-year-old, Truly.
Tayla and Truly boarded a school bus at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal at...READ ON
Tayla and Truly boarded a school bus at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal at 6:40 a.m. By the end of the two-hour ride, which included a stop in the Bronx, every seat was occupied.
The trip was free for family members and organized by Hour Children, a...READ ON
The trip was free for family members and organized by Hour Children, a non-profit that focuses on incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families.
Truly slept on her mother’s lap most of the way to the facility. Rain...READ ON
Truly slept on her mother’s lap most of the way to the facility. Rain fell steadily as the bus traveled to upstate New York.
Tayla visits her mother with Truly about once a month. “It’s...READ ON
Tayla visits her mother with Truly about once a month. “It’s always exciting to see her,” said Tayla. “We have our own problems out in the real world. When you go in there, you leave all of that behind.”
Bedford Hills currently houses 690 women.
Tayla signed in at the facility’s family center. Along with their time...READ ON
Tayla signed in at the facility’s family center. Along with their time in the security line, Tayla and Truly waited about 30 minutes to get in. Visitors are not allowed to bring in cell phones, smartwatches, laptops and other equipment with wi-fi capability.
Truly sat on her grandmother’s lap in the gymnasium of the prison....READ ON
Truly sat on her grandmother’s lap in the gymnasium of the prison. “Every time I get to see them is special,” said Tammara. “Every time I don’t see them, it’s the hardest.”
Tasir, 19, held onto his mother as they watched Truly competing in a dance contest.
Tables were decorated and lunch was served at the holiday event. Donors...READ ON
Tables were decorated and lunch was served at the holiday event. Donors provided gifts picked by the parents for their children.
Tammara’s family stayed close to each other throughout the...READ ON
Tammara’s family stayed close to each other throughout the four-and-a-half hour visit.
Tammara said goodbye to her oldest son, Timeek, whom she hadn’t seen in three years.
Mother and daughter have a moment after leaving the building. “Now that...READ ON
Mother and daughter have a moment after leaving the building. “Now that I’m an adult, it’s hard to visit my mom because I work. I go to school. I’m a single mom,” said Tayla. “But everything that my mom has done in this prison is to make sure that she keeps in contact. She stretches out her arms to make sure that she can keep that family bond.”