Jessup Correctional Institution

The two Wes Moores first talk at Jessup Correctional Institution. The meeting room reminds the author of a school cafeteria. Lucky family members are able to embrace, and then sit at a table together. The Moores are not lucky. They have to speak through telephones, with bulletproof glass between them.

Baltimore

Baltimore was a huge city with many different neighborhoods. Though the book mentions tourist areas and upscale areas, the primary focus is on the poor areas. This was where Wes and Moore grew up. The few jobs that were there did not pay well. There were few opportunities to better oneself. The schools were not as good as those in other districts. The author provides a lot of statistics to explain what is going on in the city, such as the percentage of teenage girls getting pregnant and the estimated number of drug addicts...