Matthew Capuano-Rizzo

The United States comprises only five percent of the world’s population, but holds more than twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners. Furthermore, since 1970, the incarcerated population in the United States has increased by 700% to 2.3 million people in jail or prison with prison spending outpacing education spending in recent years. This impeccably made film questions the common wisdom that prison exists to punish and rehabilitate 'violent criminals,' by exploring the stories of those behind bars and how are society functions to keep them there rather than reintegrate them into our towns and cities. The Bard Prison Initiative, by offering the same courses in prison as on Bard's main campus underscores the potential of inmates to move past their worst decisions and contribute to society in a powerful way. This film, evoking tears, compassion, and resolve to change our broken system, changed my perspective on criminal justice by highlighting our common humanity.