College Behind Bars

College Behind Bars

Documentary 2019

Men and women serving time in New York struggle to turn their lives around as they pursue a college degree through the Bard Prison Initiative.

Documentary 2019

PG

EPISODE 1

Nobody Ever Taught Me Any Of That

Incarcerated men and women are admitted to the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) and discover they are held to the same academic standards as students on the Bard College main campus.

53 min · 10 Mar 2023 PG
EPISODE 2

I'm Trying To Get Home To My Family Too

Students address the difficult circumstances of their past. The debate team preps to face the University of Vermont. Some make strides academically, while others are accused of breaking prison rules.

52 min · 18 Mar 2023 PG
EPISODE 3

Every Single Word Matters

The debate team faces West Point. Seniors embark on their thesis projects. Rodney and Dyjuan's families visit, while Shawta reckons with her path to prison. Jule struggles to find work in New York.

53 min · 25 Mar 2023 PG
EPISODE 4

Home Is A Work In Progress

The debate team faces Harvard. Most seniors complete thesis projects but Giovannie is sent to SHU and might not finish his. Students at Taconic and Eastern celebrate at graduation.

53 min · 6 Dec 2021 PG

Lynn Novick

Director
Ken Burns

Producer

About

College Behind Bars

DOCUMENTARY

Men and women serving time in New York struggle to turn their lives around as they pursue a college degree through the Bard Prison Initiative.

Information

Studio: PBS
Released: 2019
Rated: PG
Region of Origin: United States

Languages

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

Accessibility

: Closed captions refer to subtitles in available languages with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.