The Jumpsuit Project is a socially engaged art project inspired by SHERRILL ROLAND’s personal experience in the prison system. Roland was wrongfully convicted of a crime and spent nearly a year in state prison before the conviction was thrown out. A year-and-a-half after being released, he was exonerated of all charges. As a response, Roland began The Jumpsuit Project: he wears an orange jumpsuit, similar to the one he wore while in prison, in public places in order to spark conversation about incarceration and its impact on individuals, families and communities. The public is invited to ask him questions, share their stories and experiences with the criminal justice system, and start to combat the stigma surrounding incarceration.
Photography by Meg Allen