Milanowski - whose work is in the permanent collections of MoMA and other museums - gave us permission to publish the images. He took the photos between 1982 and 1986 in prisons in Walpole, Mass., Ionia, Mich., and Jackson, Mich.
The early and mid-1980s were a time when prison populations were exploding. Milanowski's photos, some of which appear in the book "Duplicity" he worked on with Bob Tarte, provide a vivid look into an experience that has become all too common in America.
"Americans very much ignore prisons and prison life - unless they live near a prison where the prison is the source of some level of local employment. Americans seem to only take notice of prisons when there is a problem, an escape, a prison disturbance (that receives national media attention), or when there is some breakdown in the system," Milanowski told the Prison Photography blog.
Milanowski added: "I think photography can help - and be an effective tool in informing the public about prisons and who inhabits American prisons; but, I'm not sure at all that our society wants to look at prisons and prison life … it's too easy to ignore."
![Inmate Rail Milanowski](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/52aa045f69bedd1751236067-1200-924/inmate-rail-milanowski-2.jpg)
A maximum-security inmate leaned against a railing at Massachusetts' Walpole Prison in 1982. From the book "Duplicity."
![Prison Bed Steve Milanowski](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52aa04b9eab8eaef7823605f-1200-924/prison-bed-steve-milanowski-1.jpg)
Milanowski showed a medium-security inmate at Walpole reclining in his cluttered room in this other 1982 photo, his jeans hanging above his bed. From the book "Duplicity."
![Prison Steve Malinowski](http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52aa06626bb3f75b0b72ac6f-1200-924/prison-steve-malinowski-2.jpg)
This inmate, in the same prison that year, proudly displayed his ability to do push-ups on his thumbs.
![Inmate Steve Milanowski](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52a9fcaceab8eadd67236061-1200-924/inmate-steve-milanowski.jpg)
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Another medium-security inmate stood stoically in his cell at Walpole in 1983.
![Medium Security Walpole Prison Steve Milanowski](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/52a9fe25ecad0460170dbdd5-1200-924/medium-security-walpole-prison-steve-milanowski.jpg)
This image of a medium-security inmate at Walpole in 1983 is particularly striking. From the book "Duplicity."
![After Kitchen Duty Steve Milanowski](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/52a9fee96da8110067e10867-1200-924/after-kitchen-duty-steve-milanowski.jpg)
After shooting photographs in Walpole, Milanowski got access to Ionia Prison in Michigan in 1985. Here are inmates after kitchen duty.
![Maximum Security Prison Inmate Steve Milanowski](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/52a9ff456bb3f7ee7e72ac5e-1200-924/maximum-security-prison-inmate-steve-milanowski.jpg)
And here's a maximum-security inmate at Ionia walking around in 1985. From the book "Duplicity."
![Female counselor at Ionia Prison](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52a9ffb56bb3f7f67e72ac60-1200-924/female-counselor-at-ionia-prison-1.jpg)
A volunteer religious counselor at Ionia is pictured here in 1985. From the book "Duplicity."
![Prison Tattoo Steve Malinowski](http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52aa015c69beddb14623606f-1200-924/prison-tattoo-steve-malinowski-1.jpg)
The next year, Milanowski went to Jackson Prison in Michigan, where he captured this inmate smoking alone.