Patty DeJuneas
a committed and at the same time creative photographer
Lawyer. Animal lover. Photographer. Democrat.
Greetings from Boston!
For my first 50 years on the planet, I did not think of myself as creative in any sort of artistic way. That changed when I discovered street photography. By day, I am a criminal defense and civil rights attorney. In that role, I see the uglier sides of humanity, but through photography, I learned to see beauty in all of humanity, even when hidden behind the ugly.
I purchased my first “real” camera in the summer of 2019 in anticipation of my life-long dream to travel to eastern Africa for safari and mountain gorillas. Early in the pandemic, I was turned on to street photography and, with growing fascination, began to document the people and world around me. Finding people, though, was not easy. Boston was deserted. On many days, I walked blocks without seeing another soul, so I started mostly by photographing solitary figures I stumbled across during my strolls around the city.
As an introvert and in my ongoing quest to capture images that evoke the loneliness of solitary confinement, I still find myself drawn to solitary figures in urban environments. Recently, I started a project to document the lives of men and women as they re-enter society after incarceration, with a goal of displaying those images in a place where they can be seen by the politicians and judges who create and enforce our criminal laws.
Although my free time is somewhat limited, I carry my camera with me everywhere and anywhere I go. Many of my images are created on my way to/home from work. On weekends, you’ll often find me roaming around Boston, hunting for interesting street scenes and people. I particularly enjoy documenting social justice protests, where emotions are raw, passions are inflamed, and people speak their truths to power. No matter the subject, I yearn to discern and convey the stories of the people I photograph.
I am honored and thrilled to continue my love for the streets as a member of the Progressive Street gang of photographers. We are Progressive!
January 22-2026 – I certainly did not realize it then, but my whole life -- personal and professional -- permanently changed exactly 6 years ago today. Since then, I watched hundreds of hours of video showing guards terrorizing, beating, kicking, shooting pepperballs (just like ICE!), and siccing vicious attack dogs on prisoners. I have never encountered such extreme trauma like I saw in dozens of men who cried to me, even the ones who have long been hardened by the system. For me, there were many tears, sleepless nights, nightmares, fits of rage, panic attacks re how I could pay my bills when 50% of my work was pro bono on that case, on top of working thousands of hours. I obsessed about this case to the exclusion of everything and everyone else. And it was well worth it because 6 years ago today, I finally found my calling.
Radio Boston tackles the topic of clemency. This segment aired on November 8, 2023.
First, we speak to Thomas Koonce, who was incarcerated for three decades for murder until former Governor Charlie Baker commuted his sentence last year. Koonce talks about what clemency has meant for his life.
Then, we explore the history of clemency in Massachusetts, and how Gov. Maura Healey is thinking about it in her administration with WBUR's Deb Becker and Patty Dejuneas, longtime attorney and current member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Clemency Task Force.
2025
I particularly enjoy documenting social justice protests, where emotions are raw, passions are inflamed, and people speak their truths to power. No matter the subject, I yearn to discern and convey the stories of the people I photograph.
