Getting Out of Prison

Laura, that was an amazing piece. My only complaint is that I wanted to watch more. I would really love to see a follow-up on Justin, Selina, and especially Lucio (he seemed like such a good guy for having spent 11 years in jail for murder). I also would've loved to know the percentage of inmates that are incarcerated in our overcrowded prisons for non-violent drug-related charges. To Laura and everyone responsible for the making of this piece, thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into it, it really turned out great.

Another strong and thoughtful provoking topic. Two million inmates is a figure that is hard to grasp and probably involves an equal number in the policing of the prisoners, guards, probation officers,police officers,the court system to mention but a few.

This maybe is one of the reasons to re-circuate the prison population and keep more people employed. I am sure thousands of the prisoners commit the most minor of offences that have them sent back to prison and they never have a good opportunity to go "straight"as it were.

Laura Ling is up against an institution that is blinkered in its outlook and it finds no reason to assist prisoners as they are the ones who keep the system operating. Some of the guys interviewed appear to be resigned to the fact that there is very little hope for them I assume this to be prevalent in the prison system and is truly sad

I cannot suggest anything to help as the problem is so vast with the numbers involved.

I need to come back to this film because I am on a very slow connection in a foreign country right now. Thanks Keith for sending me this one. I will book mark and come back later.

Hey Lucien BTW guess what.....I am in Ecuador in Quito. We are going to Ibarra tomorrow and next week we will be going to Ambato, Riobamba, Guaranda, Banos, and Puli.

Isn't that exciting?

I will be posting videos and pics of my trip when I get back. I got some great footage at the bullfights and the protests outside. Could make an interesting pod.

How you been brother?

Great piece Laura.

Unfortunately however, it leaves out the biggest criminal that the planet has ever seen. THE WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL. Americas problem is that the petty thief is the mindset of what a criminal is. True, they are criminals, but there is a bigger problem. You see them on the streets everyday, but you dont notice them because, for the most part, they are not the minorities that you see in this documentary.Most crooks dont finish high school. The ones that do, and go on to college, are the real problems. They are the smart crooks. They're the ones that have stole this country blind. They didnt use small guns. They start wars and destroy small countries with big guns.They do it with their degrees, titles,influence,briefcases and pens.

How many petty thieves come from loving, drug and alcohol free. two parent homes ? Poverty breeds crime. It always has, and it always will.Pyschologist say that, If you dont reach a child by the time that he is 4, you stand a great chance of losing him or her.My wife and myself keep her grandson. He is 10 years old now.We've had him since he was 5 hers old. His Father is a sorry piece of shit, and his Mother is finally getting her life together, and she works all of the time. My wife helps him with his homework every night, and on the weekends, I take him with me everywhere I go. We spend friday nights at Borders. I will be damned if we loose him to the streets.

If you dont show your children love, somebody else will. Thats a fact. This film is a wake-up call and it does serve a purpose. I hope, however, that it does not embed this image into your mindset as to who the real criminals are.

The government needs to get more involve on Rehabilitation Programs to stop the cycle, instead on building more and more prisons.

If they were law abiding citizens they would not have to face this problem at all. No pity for convicted felons.

Laura, you are an incredibly gifted reporter.
Incredible work, really.

i thought it was very real and informing about how the people in and out of prison think, and the neighborhoods they live in

Pure journalistic excellence... I would liked to see where these blokes are in six months.

It's a very moving idea, though I don't think it transfers to the UK. It is a lot easier to get back on the right track after custody here. You've just got to want it enough.

great film

It is sad that these guys who get out of prison and fall out of contact with laura ling. the important thing I think people need to see is that life is boring, life is hard, but I hope these people find some loving support so they don't go back to their old lifestyle.

Powerful video, i hope someone would help my nephew get out of prison insouth carolina, he has been in prison since he was 13 years old, 1994

Very powerful piece! Once you go into the system it is extremely difficult to get back out. I found myself rooting for each person to succeed then saddened by the ones who succumbed to the boredom they all experienced after their release. I know most were there by their own hand but my heart still goes out to each and everyone!

i will wait and watch this with everybody else :D