A former gang member and inmate in prison at Támara Penitentiary outside of Tegucigalpa is marked with tattoos that identified him as a member of MS, Mara Salvatrucha, a gang that originated in El Sal... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

"Cobras " special police anti-gang units train for special operations on a police campus in Tegucigalpa. They cover their faces so they can't be identified later and targeted by the gangs. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

"Cobras " special police anti-gang units holding pointed guns during training for special operations on a police campus in Tegucigalpa. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Wrought iron couldn't stop the deaths of three older brothers of a child living outside San Pedro Sula. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Josue Ricardo Cruz, 20, a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang who was severely burned in the May 17, 2004 prison fire. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

On the rural campus of Proyeto Vitoria, Zohammar Francisco, 24, leaves a religious meeting. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

A counselor tries to convince a participant to remain on the campus of Proyeto Vitoria, a program that offers refuge and evangelical Christianity to men and boys who want to leave gangs or quit using... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Eddy Alfredo, left, and Antonio Garcia Javier, work at a wrought iron workshop which employs former gang members in a suburb of San Pedro Sula. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Miguel Angel Baraona welds wrought iron grates at a workshop which employs former gang members in a suburb of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Fencing make up some of the elaborate security systems in an exclusive area of San Pedro Sula, where new houses are being built. The whole country is focused on security in response to an explosion of... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Oscar Cuellas, 20, a former gang member, holds a photograph of his newborn daughter. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Family members wait for news outside the morgue in San Pedro Sula. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

A justice department official checks to see if a recently arrested alleged gang member was beaten by the police, after the boy, a marked with tattoos symbolizing the gang Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, co... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

A motorcycle unit of police frisk a man for drugs and weapons that they found purchasing grain alcohol in the streets of an impoverished barrio at night in Tegucigalpa. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Maria Rodriguez, the mother of three slain sons, holds her orphaned granddaughter. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

On the rural campus of Proyeto Vitoria, former gang members and drug addicts participate in group prayer. Proyeto Vitoria offers refuge and evangelical Christianity to try to help men and boys who wan... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

On the rural campus of Proyeto Vitoria, former gang members and drug addicts participate in group prayer. Proyeto Vitoria offers refuge and evangelical Christianity to try to help men and boys who wan... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

On a table lies a bible, a fresh mango and an ointment. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

High on drugs, a recently arrested gang member, marked with tattoos that identify him as Mara Salvatrucha 13, jokes and poses for a photograph at the central police precinct in Tegucigalpa. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

A police officer on nightly patrol in one of Tegucigalpa's neighborhoods known as a gang area. Police and government officials claim that the increased police presence and enforcement of anti-gang leg... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

An emaciated member of the Mara 18 gang, "El Bad Boy" suffers from severe arthritis but says he receives no treatment or painkillers in the Támara prison. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

An emaciated member of the Mara 18 gang, "El Bad Boy" suffers from severe arthritis but says he receives no treatment or painkillers in the Támara prison. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Former gang member Welbin Anibal has been in prison at Támara near Tegucigalpa for over a decade. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Prisoners share a tiny room that has only one single bed in the state prison at Támara in Honduras, in the section reserved for good behavior. In this same prison, a fire broke out, killing over 100 a... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Reformed gang members and other prisoners line up for a lunch of tortillas and rice in the special unit at Támara Prison for those who have shown good behavior. In the same prison, about 100 alleged g... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Celso Mencia "Royer" is a prisoner at the state penitentiary Támara, where many gang members are being held before trial. At this same prison, about 100 alleged gang members awaiting trial burned to d... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

An inmate gestures towards a photographer waiting for permission from the gang-controlled special prison unit to enter. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Tattoos on a gang member's arms depict clown faces and read, "Smile Now" and "Cry Later". The subject is a member of Mara 18, (XVIII), one of two major Mara gangs in Honduras. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

The tattoo on the back of a gang member says "En Memoria de mis Homies": In memory of my homies. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Prisoners pose for a photograph and make gang signs. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

On a day when visitors were permitted to enter, inmate Roberto, who bears facial tattoos identifying him as a member of Mara 18 gang, holds his eight-month-old son Alexander at Támara Prison near Tegu... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Tryptic view of the city slums in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, some of the most dangerous area in the city where the government is concentrating its anti-gang efforts. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

City slums on the edges of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the capitol, where some of the worst urban poverty and crime is found. The Honduran government is concentrating on cracking down on crime and gangs in... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

"Cobras " special police anti-gang units repel down a wall while holding guns as they train for special operations on a police campus in Tegucigalpa. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

"Tac" a member of Mara 18 (Diezyocho or XVIII) who has many gang tattos on his chest and arms, in the yard where he and other gang members hide from the police and their rival gang. "Tac" is the gang... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

The tattoo on the back of a gang member says "En Memoria de mis Homies": In memory of my homies. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

The tattoo on the back of a gang member says "En Memoria de mis Homies": In memory of my homies. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Prisoners pose for a photograph and make gang signs. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Ernesto Bardales, director of J.H.A.-J.A. (Jovenes Honduras Adelante Junto Avecemos) an organization that works with the maras, talks to active gang members. J.H.A.-J.A. provides refuge and assistance... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Gustavo is friends with several members of the Mara 18 (XV3) gang in his neighborhood, outside of San Pedro Sula. He hangs out with them in the secret house they use to hide from rival gang members an... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

An abandoned house in a gang neighborhood outside of San Pedro Sula which is marked in graffiti by the Mara 18 (XV3) gang, which has its roots in the 18th Street gang from Los Angeles, California. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Armando Velasquez, left, 26, and Santos Rodriguez Peña, 29, were severely burned in the May 17, 2004 fire that broke out in a gang unit at the San Pedro Sula prison. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Members of Mara 18 (Diezyocho or XV3) (l-r) "Little Pájalo", "El Body" and "Travieso". These names are their "placas" or nicknames within the gang. The gang members preferred to give only their "placa... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XVlll) Gang member "El Body", 24, holding his daughter, Darling, at home in a working class neighbourhood called La Planeta outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XVlll) Gang member "El Body" with an album of photographs of his "homies". He is in the photograph on the right, pointing at his homie who is holding a gun. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XV3) gang member "El Body", 24, (center) at home with his newborn daughter and former girlfriend, who is the baby's mother. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XV3) Gang member "El Body", 24, left, tries to give his daughter, Darling, to his ex-girlfriend (the baby's mother) Daisy. Since joining the Mara 18 gang ten years ago, he claims to have mu... © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XV3) Gang member "El Body", 24, right, and his ex-girlfriend's cousin, holding "El Body's" daughter, left. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Diezyocho (XV3) Gang member "El Body", 24, right, at home in working class neighbourhood called La Planeta outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen

Armanda Velasquez, 26, was severely burned in the May 17, 2004 fire that broke out in a gang unit at San Pedro Sula Prison, killing over 100. © Jodi Hilton/shotbywomen