College Behind Bars

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.

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...

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

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

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.