College Behind Bars

College Behind Bars

Documentary 2019

Available on PBS Video

Men and women earn college degrees - and a chance at new beginnings - while incarcerated.

Documentary 2019

TV-14

EPISODE 1

Part One: “Nobody ever taught me any of that”

Incarcerated men and women at Eastern and Taconic Correctional facilities are admitted to the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI). When classes begin, they discover they must meet the same high standards as students on Bard College main campus.

53 min · Nov 25, 2019 TV-14
EPISODE 2

Part Two: “I’m trying to get home to my family, too”

Students address the difficult circumstances of their past. The debate team prepares to face the University of Vermont. Some make strides academically, as others are sent to the Special Housing Unit, SHU, jeopardizing their education.

52 min · Nov 25, 2019 TV-14
EPISODE 3

Part Three: “Every single word matters”

The debate team faces West Point. Seniors embark on their thesis projects. Rodney and Dyjuan’s families visit, while Tamara receives terrible news from home. Shawta reckons with her path to prison and Jule struggles to find work in NYC.

53 min · Nov 26, 2019 TV-14
EPISODE 4

Part Four: “Home is a work in progress”

The debate team faces Harvard. Seniors complete their 100-paged thesis projects. Giovannie is sent to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) and might not finish his project. Students at Taconic and Eatern receive their degrees at graduation.

53 min · Nov 26, 2019 TV-14

Lynn Novick

Director
Ken Burns

Producer

About

College Behind Bars

DOCUMENTARY

Men and women earn college degrees - and a chance at new beginnings - while incarcerated.

Information

Studio: PBS
Released: 2019
Rated: TV-14

Languages

Original Audio: English (United States)
Audio and Subtitles: English (United States) (AAC, ⁨Dolby 5.1⁩, CC)

Accessibility

: Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.