College Behind Bars (2019– ) User Reviews

So powerful

[marthcrone · 9/10 · 13 December 2019]

It's amazing to see the transformation of the students here. I'm an educator at a community college, and I wish I had the privilege of having students who are this committed to learning! The single-minded focus on their classwork is astounding, and in my experience virtually impossible to replicate in the "real world". My students have jobs, families, hobbies, hijinks, Netflix and ESPN that they prioritize. The closest I've come to the dedication of these prisoners to pure academic activity was in my PhD program.

The documentary is a little slow, but very well done. It's inspiring and uplifting. Highly recommended

This is not your typical prison documentary

[papirna_vila · 9/10 · 29 March 2020]

I have watched a lot of other prison documentaries, and this one is very different from the others. People who are doing their time, is given an opportunity to be students and discover that there is more to life than what they used to think. They embraced this chance, and it is amazing to see... Also sad to see, that circumstances play a very significant role in human life, and that education needs to be available to everyone, no matter their age, race, social status. I hope all these people get their lives back in order when they leave prison, and live a better life. Society needs to invest more in education and less in wars.

Feel good and enlightening

[garnet-suss · 8/10 · 24 August 2021]

This was surprisingly good. It was a positive watch. I encourage everyone to watch it and hope that schools show it to their students.

Reinforces the value of education for everyone, everywhere

[jackiedreilly · 10/10 · 6 December 2019]

I was enthralled with the stories of the men and women who are transforming their lives through the Bard Prison Initiative. Education is the key to resolving all of the problems that we face in this world. This documentary is a testament to the power of education to enlighten, lift up, and change those who may be considered to be the throw-aways of society.

Just leaving a review so hopefully that other jerk's falls off the frontpage

[fryan-78-243106 · 27 November 2019]

Enough said. Some people aren't born with equal opportunities - lack of access to education, child care, a living wage - and find themselves stuck in a system that hurts rather than helps them. Even profits from them. If we could address problems like this in our country, as well as have a little bit more compassion and understanding for others' situations, we'd be much better off.

Breaking the cycle of disadvantage

[edwin-wks · 10/10 · 10 October 2020]

No child is born bad but not every child is born into privilege. In the backstories of the inmates at Bard Prison Initiative, we hear: abusive or neglectful childhoods, parents with addictions or mental health issues, domestic violence, negative peer influence, absence of positive role models, living in the most impoverished and crime-ridden neighbourhoods.

These men and women grew up with a pervasive sense of impending danger. Their young minds became preoccupied with threat detection instead of being free to attend to education and achieving the developmental milestones like the other kids who were not saddled with unfit parents or a toxic environment. It is inevitable that some of these children would eventually end up on the wrong side of the law and in prison. Just ask how many prisoners have a college education and a loving family.

To err is human. The inmates have been judged in a court of law and have done or are doing their time. Studying for a college degree behind bars is the kind of equity that had it been available to their families in the first place, these people would probably not be where they are. Enabling them to achieve their potential in spite of their past disrupts the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and crime.

Inspiring... I'm a prisoner inside my own head... And you're helping me

[jmezzatesta · 10/10 · 6 August 2021]

I've spent my life inside my own head... And it's always felt like a prison, and that thought makes me feel like a crap person because so many people are in a real prison... I say real, and I admit I've never been incarcerated, but the way I feel, my lifestyle, to me feels like I'm in a prison in my own head... I don't know where to go from here because I've been laying in my bed for the last 5 years, and I have pretty much zero support. My body is deteriorating because of this. A good kick is what I need... And this documentary hit my arse hard....

Watching this made me cry so much... It also made me smile! It made me rage in happiness!!!! Seeing how these beautiful men and woman, who had a negative past but were able to overcome the prison in their heads... That needs to be overcome before you can move on... It's so inspiring seeing you guys overcome such a messed up mental prison, while literally in prison... I don't know what this is like, I only understand the mental prison... And to see you overcome this while you have been rejected by society is heartbreaking, and so fkn beautiful! (except for sonya... Wow... What a disgusting human, barely human...).

Thank you for helping just that little bit. Even though I'm in such a different situation, I still understand more than you could know... And the next time I have dark thoughts, or dark actions... I will think about that debate! I will think about how you learnt German (wow... On so many levels...), i will think about sonya and how disgusting she is 🤢... And how there are people who will support you, even though they don't know who you are.

Beautiful, inspirational, heart breaking...

Education is Power & True Reform

[pamelaann-53627 · 10/10 · 25 December 2021]

Whoever thinks that someone commits a serious crime for the purpose of getting a college education is not very bright. Just stupid politics. Crimes result in bad decisions and bad situations for a multitude of reasons. The opportunity isn't there for each prisoner and it won't be taken on by everyone that's incarcerated. Use your brains on this and see past the ridiculous political spin.

Education is power, it helps you grow and critically think as a human being. It's the closest thing to actual reform in prison versus working out, watching tv, hanging out with other inmates. I haven't heard that they get much therapy in there. What else is gonna "fix" someone?

The fact that nearly 50% of people return to prison within a year tells us that there is little "reform" going on there. If anything they learn even more how to manipulate and be harder criminals. The actual problems, root problems aren't being solved.

If someone is ambitious enough to want to get an education while incarcerated and step away from the BS going on inside while doing their time, that's a great choice! Isn't it cheaper in the long run for tax payers to not have have these people return? For them to go work legally and pay taxes? Isn't it less painful for humanity that inmates do not commit another crime against others? I'd rather an inmate gets reformed & educated than repeat offend on me or someone I care about! Think about it!

Everyone has to remember the costs and who profits from prisons and the volume of prisoners. It's a business especially when privatized and there's money to be made. Even think about suppliers of prison food, clothes, etc. But the righteous thing that we should ALL want is for the prison population to come down. We have so many people in prison in the US versus the rest of the world. Lets get them a chance at being productive when they get out. We should not hope for humankind to be caged.

Anyone can spin something good into something bad and vice versa, as shown in the debates in this documentary. But, educating prisoners while doing their time is good for humanity when they get out!! This isn't a bad thing!

We give politicians second chances all the time! Yet they preach such condemnation on others.

Let's truly give others another chance at life and getting it right. So many are so young when they made bad decisions and I know everyone has done something stupid but many didn't get caught, especially when young.

Past criminals aren't going to disappear off the earth and most will get out of jail one day. Do you want them reoffending on you cause they have no other tools to survive?

This was an excellent watch and insight into real lives of people. Kudos to the students and the teachers and everyone who participates in this opportunity!

I'm so proud of all the students who worked so hard and would hire one of the graduates in a heartbeat!

Great documentary

[maryjbautista · 10/10 · 25 November 2020]

This documentary truly highlights the benefits of education as part of rehabilitation in the prison system. You also get an in depth perspective of its affects on the inmates and how the system can improve. It is a MUST see.

I'm a Psychology student so this documentary was truly rewarding for my research.