The four-part documentary College Behind Bars is an intimate look at the lives and experiences of a dozen BPI students and their families that confronts and challenges conventional wisdom about the purpose of both education and incarceration.

 

Stream Now on PBS LearningMedia

 

Since the film aired in 2019…

Explore how BPI has changed and hear from alumni featured in the film

Portrait of former student and alumni Dyjuan Tatro circa 2018

“Education itself is what liberated me…it helped me understand my place in the world and activated me as a civically minded person.”

Dyjuan Tatro ’18

The BPI student body has expanded:

Then 300, Now 400+

Portrait of former student and current alumni Sebastian Yoon circa 2017

“Experiences like this made me want to fight harder, to study harder…so that I can make a dent—as just one person—in this thing we call the criminal justice system.”

Sebastian Yoon ’17

The BPI alumni community is growing:

Then 300, Now 850+

Portrait of former student and current alumni Shawnta Montgomery circa 2017

“Now that I’ve been home for a few years, I appreciate even more what it means to be a Bard alum.”

Shawnta Montgomery ’17

The number of degrees conferred is rising:

Then 549, Now 765

BPI students cheering after debate win. Students applaud at a debate.

The Debate Union is Now 14-4

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College Behind Bars is directed and produced by Lynn Novick; produced by Sarah Botstein; edited by Tricia Reidy ACE; produced by Salimah El-Amin and Mariah Doran; with original music by Jongnic Bontemps; and with cinematography by Buddy Squires ASC and Nadia Hallgren. Ken Burns is executive producer. College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV.

To learn more about this project go to:
Skiff Mountain Films