THE RETURN - Transcript

 

00:00 – START:

SCENE: KAYLICA READING LETTER

 

00:00:17

Kaylica: (reading from letter) My name is KaylicA Anderson- Kenneth Anderson’s eldest daughter. I’m writing this letter to ask for another chance for my dad. I’m aware he is going to be evaluated for release. I am 24 now. It has been years since I’ve seen my father’s face. I missed his presence in the past years and I want nothing more than to have my dad in my life again. I look at this as a chance to show him what I’ve become and hopefully allow him to be a father to me in my adult life.

 

00:00:57 change scene to Judge William Ryan writing and putting on robes

 

00:01:08

 Kaylica (voiceover): I have a five-year-old daughter now and even though she has never met her grandfather, from my memories and stories I have told her about him she is already in love with him and is very eager to meet him one day. 

 

00:01:23

Kaylica (voiceover): I know he wants to show us that he is more than what he has been looked at.

 

00:01:29

Judge William C. Ryan: People vs. Kenneth Anderson, SA 039878. He’s got two prior robbery strikes

 

00:01:41

Kaylica (VO): I believe we can be better and stronger as a family with my dad here with us. Know that he is loved and missed and supported even in his absence. Just imagine how much good can come from a love hands on.

 

 

 

 

00:02:04 TITLE CARD: THE RETURN

 

00:02:17 Stanford Three Strikes Project

         Palo Alto, CA

 

00:02:22

Woman in a pinstripe suit on the phone: Stanford Lawyer

We wanna handle this as carefully as we possibly can until you walk out those doors. That’s, I mean, that’s the end game that’s where we need to get to, which is why (overlapping voices transition)

 

00:02:32

Attorney Michael Romano: Okay so don’t now.

 

00:02:34

Attorney Susan Champion: Right.

 

Mike: Riverside?

 

Susan: No.

 

Mike: Kern?

 

Susan: No.

 

Mike: Orange?

 

Susan: Yes

 

00:02:39

Stanford Lawyer Woman in pinstripe Suit on the phone: Mike, he’s really not wanting to come to court on, on the 30th.

 

00:02:45

Mike: Oh yeah. (takes receiver) Hi Ali it’s Mike. Well yeah, but eh. Let me, let, let me tell you that, I you, you gotta, you gotta walk on egg shells, you gotta ah,  you gotta, we gotta walk the walk for these guys one more time. I know it’s.

 

00:02:45 Subtitle: Michael Romano

            Director, Three Strikes Project

 

00:02:58

TITLE CARD: In 1994, California voters passed ‘Three Strikes”- one of the harshest sentencing laws in U.S. history.

 

00:03:06

Susan: Davis is number three. He was convicted of possession of marijuana, and apparently it was a very small amount of marijuana, and he was getting a 25 to life. Thomas is the fifth one. He was convicted of attempted second degree burglary.

 

00:03:24

Susan: I know. The next one is Robles, he was convicted of meth possession and being under the influence in 1997.

 

00:03:32

 

Mike Romano (voiceover): You know, what sort of inspired me to do this in the first place was a case for a guy who got a third strike for the sale of five dollars worth of crack cocaine. And they decided the case in 30 seconds. So it wasn’t just that this person was getting a life sentence, it was that the system tolerated it and expected it and it was so automatic and unquestioned.

 

00:03:56

Susan: 55163 27355 34047

 

00:04:04

Subtitle (00:04:11) Susan Champion

Attorney, Three Strikes Project

 

Susan (voiceover):  I interned at the San Francisco district attorney’s office, and sitting in a courtroom watching the parade of people that were clearly mentally ill, clearly drug addicts and almost exclusively people of color, get these incredibly harsh sentences, I just thought you know this was the kind of work I want to do. I wanna impact injustice.

 

00:04:24

CARD: In 2012, California voters passed Prop 36 to reform Three Strikes - the first time in U.S. history that citizens shortened sentences of the currently incarcerated.

00:04:37

Second line: Overnight, thousand of lifers became eligible for release.

 

00:04:42

Female Attorney: We just spoke to Larry’s sister, to let her know there’s a chance  that he’s going to be ordered released tomorrow.

 

Mike: Where is he?

Female Attorney: He’s in Wasco

 

00:04:48

Mike: At the time I don’t think that there had ever been in U.S. history a successful law repealing sentences and letting people out of prison. And we realized that there weren’t dozens of people in this situation, there were hundreds, there were ten thousand people sentenced to life under the three strikes law, and we just got absolutely barraged by people wanting our help.

 

00:05:10

Court Voice: Please remain seated and come to order department 56W is now in session with the honourable William C. Ryan judge prociding.

 

00:05:17

Judge Ryan Voice Over: We got the first petitions in a day or two before prop 36 passed and they came in like a hurricane.

 

00:05:24

Judge Ryan: People versus Ernest Bray Junior NA 019462. John Stephen NA 039007. Christopher Compin NA 032256.

 

00:05:36

Judge Ryan VO: The legislation says they shall be resentenced unless at my discretion I find that releasing them would pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety. So I’m gonna look at how are they doing in prison? What’s their disciplinary history?

 

00:05:47

Ms. Widmark in court : Now’s too uh dangerousness his current crime was stealing a couple pairs of Levi’s and a shirt from Sears.

 

00:05:55

Judge Ryan (voiceover): Even though they’re eligible, they may not be suitable to be let out, but the burden is on the prosecution to prove that they’re currently dangerous by a preponderance the other, in other words is it more likely than not.

 

00:06:07

Judge Ryan:  (talking to court) People vs.  Kenneth Anderson, SA 039878.

 He’s got two prior robberies strikes and how long ago was that?

 

00:06:21

Prosecutor: 1996.

 

Judge Ryan: So almost 20 years ago. Mr Chelvin did you want to add something?

 

Prosecutor (Mr Chelvin): Although we’re opposed. If the court does release Mr. Anderson we’re supportive of his ah reentry plans  at Bible Tabernacle.

 

Judge Ryan: You know, I think, I think I’ve granted, I feel better about doing this because he is going to go there and this is something that he wanted to do as part of his re entry and so he’s got a place to go immediately.  The only thing is how does he get from prison to Bible Tabernacle?

 

Lawyer: Your Honor, his ex wife, Monica Grier who is actually in the audience today, will be providing transportation to him.

 

Judge Ryan: Alright. The defendant’s petition for resentencing pursuant to penal code section 1170.126 is granted, the sentence imposed on June 28, 2001 is recalled, vacated and set aside. So he will be discharged upon release.  That’s the order, and it will be between 5 and 10 working days before he’s out.

 

00:07:21

 

Judge Ryan: People vs Edmond L Packard…….

(moment between Monica Grier and Kaylica Anderson at announcement of Kenneth’s release)

 

 

SOLEDAD PRISON

07:38

SUBTITLE CARD: Soledad State Penitentiary

            Soledad, CA

 

interiors of Soledad  prison

00:07:45

Indistinct voice over PA system in the prison

 

00:08:03

unknown male speaker: Getting restless, let’s get this show on the road.

 

unknow female speaker: I’m getting restless too

 

Delancy Street Rep Ramiro Mejia: Good Morning guys. We’re really excited to be here, and at the same time, you know a little bit nervous. I, myself paroled from here in 2007.  I remember coming out, I had just done 12 years on two different terms. And uh you know, had already burned all my bridges. So I didn’t really know where I was going. I had a couple hundred bucks. I didn’t have any hope, and I didn’t have anybody to turn to. And you know, trying to get my life together. I had a hard time. You know I had done a lot of time, I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I didn’t want anybody to come help me. I didn’t want anybody to come teach me anything. I just wanted to kind of to sit off in the corner. That was like my low. You know, where am I going to go? It’s hard. You’re gonna get tested every day.

 

00:09:07

 

Kenneth Anderson: My oldest son when I went to prison was 13 and my youngest was about 8 or 9. My youngest daughter she, she was 7.

 

00:09:22

Text: Kenneth Anderson was sentenced to life for a purse snatching.

 

Kenneth: It hurt more to not be there for my children and to have failed in marriage. That hurt.  The 25 to life hurt because it’s like wow I gotta live in here for the rest of my life and then and who knows if they want to let you go when the time come around. And then thinking about the loss of the family, the shame, the stupidity of it, just like, wow. You can’t really have a relationship from behind these walls. A 15 minute phone call is not enough to have a real relationship. It’s like you’re tearing each other apart when you leave each other. 

 

 

SCENE: KENNETH RELEASE + KAYLICA REUNION

 

00:10:28

Christian in car driving: Indistinct. We’ll be coming round in circles, here we go.

 

00:10:48

Christian: Okay..hehe (laughs).

 

Monica: (laughs) Look at that old man. All grey.

 

Kenneth: Yeah, I’m grey (laughs).

 

Monica Grier: Put that box down and give me a hug. Oh my God, it’s alright. oh my God.

 

Kenneth: Wow this is unbelievable.

 

Monica: Don’t let go, mmm, grace and mercy. Thank you Jesus, glory, glory glory.

 

Kenneth: Hey how you doin?

 

11:42

 

Christian: Everything will be great now.

 

Monica: Look at you. Boy!

 

Christian: It’s gonna be great now. It’s gonna be great now.

 

Monica: This is something else.

 

Kenneth: Wow.

 

Monica: Wow, look at you! (laughs) My God, Thank you Lord. Wow, come on we over here. Wow fantastic.

 

Kenneth or Christian(?):I thought I was gonna have to buy you some shoes but you okay.

 

KAYLICA REUNION

 

00:12:15

SUBTITLE: Los Angeles, CA

 

00:12:17

Kaylica: Momma’s taking too long to get here with my daddy. (little girl laughs) Alright what’s next. I haven’t heard my dad’s voice in years. Like the way he sounds, I don’t even know if I remember. When I was a teenager I use to calculate the years, like life? Like how long is that? Is he going to die in there? I use to think of things like that.

 

Kaylica: Kaya, is no one outside yet? They drive slow.

 

Kaylica: Kaya, who’s that?  Oh, my stomach hurts.

 

(Hugs dad at 00:13:28)

 

00:13:28

Kenneth: Hi, hello.

 

Kaylica: Hi dad (crying)

 

Kenneth: Hi, how ya doing?

 

Kenneth: Yeah, she’s the spitting image of you.

 

Kaylica: I told you.

 

Kaylica: You don’t look like you aged a day.

Kenneth: No?

 

Kaylica: Except for the grey hair.

 

Monica: Kaya that’s your grand dad.

 

(picks up granddaughter 00:13:53)

 

Monica: That’s the one you’ve been so excited to meet.

 

Kenneth: Nice to meet you.

 

Kaylica: He’s a giant, huh?

 

Kenneth: Wow, she looks just like you. Identical.

 

Monica: Hands and all. Did you look at her fingers? Hands and all man.

 

Kaylica: Mine has a whole lot of struggle and strife on them.  I got to get to this food, mom do you want to help?

 

00:14:24

Kenneth: Oh wow, oh man, hey how ya doing? (hugs Sam) oh man. This dude is a grown man.

 

Sam: Almost, not yet.

 

Kenneth: Wow.

 

PIER

 

(Kenneth and Monica together on the beach, looking at the water)

 

00:15:01

Kenneth: Monica, same old Monica.

 

Monica: No

 

Kenneth: Unchanged.

 

Monica: I have. (kiss) Make sure you don’t got on lipstick (laughs).

 

Kenneth:  I had to admit the marriage was sweet. It was back then, it was real, it was sweet, I went to PTA meetings, I walked the kids to the school. I’d start dinner and then by the time she got home, I’m out the door headed to work, and uh I was trying to run a janitorial service that wouldn’t get off the ground and it didn’t go well because I was untrained on how to get the right contracts and bid on those contracts properly. I didn’t have the understanding so I was struggling, and I couldn’t keep up.  Every so often I would go off and use drugs, because of the shame. Before I knew it I had just went off the deep end. And I’d go to the beach to just sit around and getting high by myself.

 

00:16:32

Monica (VO) : 25 years to life? I just sat there like mouth dropped. Really? Just 25 years to life, really? I was angry, for a long time. And it took me years to get past that anger. You know I’ve worked two jobs, trying to make ends meet.  There were times when I didn’t think I’d make it. I didn’t know how I could keep going.  You know I had kids acting up in school, in the streets, and you know I had to deal with all that getting in trouble, how am I gonna make it through?

 

 

 

17:36  AMITY REENTRY CONFERENCE

 

SUBTITLE: Amity Reentry Center

Los Angeles, CA

 

00:17:42

Title Card: Members of the Three Strikes Project meet with reentry providers from around the state.

 

Mike: We were the main sponsors  of Proposition 36 we wrote it and we’ve now been trying to implement it. So the reason why reentry is so critical to Proposition 36 and this process that the law has established is we believe that we can succeed in getting more people out of prison under proposition 36 if they have these reentry plans and we do a better job keeping them out of prison, also if they have reentry plans. So it’s kind of like two birds with one stone kind of process. But like I said said, we are way behind the game and we don’t really even know what is available and what is out there. So I guess that’s sort of my first question. Is there capacity to help people getting out of prison?

 

00:18:28

Man: Not an easy process.

 

Emily Galvin: It is really difficult because, you know, it’s seen unseen, they’ve never seen us, they don’t know who we are, I don’t know who they are, and also we’re asking a really difficult question, which is hypothetically if we had an unknown number of people who would not have any funding, could you help us with them? And we’re working with some counties like LA county where there’s almost a dizzying plethora of ostensibly available resources

 

Man’s voice: Too many, too many (interrupting)

 

Emily: but I don’t know which of them are real and which of them are like a guy with a backyard and some tents in it. There is that out there. That is a thing that happens.

 

Man: Walter, can speak to that.

 

00:19:07

 

Walter: One of the things that I was concerned with when you were talking about this reentry plan was what kind of preparation, if any, is taking place in the prison pre-release, because that’s the key?

 

Mike: Zero. One of the problems we have with the Prop 36 population with regard to doing the planning on the inside is by virtue of their life status. A lot of folks resign themselves to a life in prison. And that includes disengaging from their family and community, because how else can you possibly deal with that. These guys are not as prepared as we would want them to be ideally.

 

00:19:52

Man: I’ve heard you talk about this, but I think it’s really hard for them to really understand that? I mean I got two phone calls this morning, one was a guy who went to live with his son, and you know it’s just it’s falling apart quickly.

 

00:20:06

 

Mike: People are being released with in some cases literally a paper jumpsuit and not even any money sometimes. And they are expected to find their way.

 

00:20:23

Mike: So many of these guys want to go back to their families to the extent that they have them, and we’re really trying to encourage that that’s not the best idea particularly because these guys are acclimatized to prison and prison it’s torture. There is a sense of absolute hopelessness. There is this undercurrent of violence and terror and fear. Even the United States Supreme Court has said about California prison system they are inhumane, and they’re cruel and unusual punishment. We are use to thinking about trauma and post traumatic stress I think in terms of soldiers coming back from war, but almost all of our clients have pretty severe histories of trauma in prison and they really need professional help. 

 

BILAL (1)

 

00:21:28

SUBTITLE: Home of the Loving Father Reentry Facility

            San Jose, CA

 

00:21:36

Bilal: We made it man, huh? We made it man.

 

00:21:43

Text: Bilal Kevin Chatman served 11 years of a life sentence for selling  $200 worth of drugs to an undercover agent.

 

(group of men hugging, welcoming)

 

Man: God Bless

 

Other man: That’s Raul, that’s Ben.

 

Ben: Nice to meet you man, welcome.

 

Man: That’s crazy lord, how does it feel homey?

 

Bilal: It feels great.

 

Man: How much time did you do?

 

Bilal: I did 11. Not as much as others but…

 

Man: But you’re home.

 

Bilal: I’m home. It went from one hundred and fifty to life to eleven.

 

Bilal: I don’t know what to do. I am overwhelmed and stuck right now.  You know, I’m here. Yeah, man I don’t know what to do, I’m on a couch.

 

Man: He said a couch.

 

Group laughs

 

Bilal: There aren’t couches in prison. Yes we had a shooting inside the pod I was in. Absolutely, two shots, two shots yesterday, yes two guys fighting and wouldn’t get down, one guy got up and yes wouldn’t get down again, and then finally he fired. You know not even 30 or 40 feet from me, and I said I’m gonna get shot in here before I go home.

 

 

 Scene, reading house rules.

 

00:23:13

 

Man: (reading from list) Homes of a loving father house rules: Rule number 1. No Alcohol drugs permitted at any time.

 

Bilal: (quiet) okay

 

Man: Number 2 no cursing permitted at any time. No visitors unless authorized by staff. All lights out at 10 o’ clock pm, showers only 15 minutes, let’s just be considerate for the next person in the house. We’ve got a full house right now, and those are the house rules.

 

Bilal: (quiet) okay

 

 

00:23:45

 

John: What I’ll do is I’ll take you Monday we’ll get you signed up for everything, they got resources, lot of clothes for you. Got a lot of resources that will allow us to guide you. This is what my heart desires is to help men live the right life. And it’s working for a lot of men bro, give me an opportunity, let me help you bro, I love you bro.

 

Bilal: I’m very  glad I’m here .

 

00:24:15

 

Bilal: I’m single right now and I’m not married and I don’t have any children and I’ve always wanted to and at the same time you know I’m very fortunate as a person just coming from prison and I’m given a home with a bed, with food, so I’m happy with where I’m at now. I look forward to spending whatever time I can with my mother. She was the last person that visit me in prison. My brothers never came once. They were just mad, you know, stop messing up, I understand that 100?out them. I just know that that part of my life is over with.

 

Bilal: (praying softly)

 

 

 

 

 

 

DINER WITH MONICA, KENNETH, & CHRISTIAN

 

00:25:18

Monica driving to diner: My plan was to pick him up. Let him come hang out for awhile and take him wherever, wherever he was going. Let him hang out for a couple days, cause that’s what Kaylica requested. She wanted him to hang out for a little while so you know they could spend some time with him after all these years. And um I don’t know, when he got here it just felt right, it felt complete, that’s the best way that I can explain it.

 

Monica: Dig in. You don’t know where to start first?

 

Kenneth: No. Real meat.

 

Christian:  You remember when you told me when I turned 13, you a man now? I didn’t get it until I was 21. Honestly it was difficult. Cause it wasn’t like, I didn’t know how to be a man. You know I realized I couldn’t be mad at you, cause it was like, you really, it was your decision, but you was dealing with something that was like 80% pure. And you know what I’m saying, that’s just like a serious monkey on your back.

 

00:26:45

Kenneth: So how’s your brother man?

 

Christian: He’s doing good, man. Little man he came a long way. At a really important time when, all he wanted to do was go to jail so he could see you. He didn’t care about what happened, he just wanted to be in a position to where he could see you. He didn’t care about life. You know what I mean? He came into himself.  You know what I’m saying? Like as a man, how good he can be. He came into himself.

 

Kenneth: That’s good.

 

00:27:10

 

Kenneth (cries)

 

                                               

SAM

00:27:32 SUBTITLE: Ken’s youngest son, Sam

 

SUBTITLE: Sam’s wife Patriece

00:27:31

Patriece: I’m telling you for your own sanity. You have to get it out. I feel like you’ve beaten yourself up. The entire time that I’ve known you, and from what I understand the entire time that I didn’t know you, you were going through it.

 

00:27:38

SUBTITLE: Sam’s wife Patriece

 

Sam: I don’t know. He wants to spend time with the kids. That’s probably what I’m mostly scared about. It’s like I don’t want him to get close, too close, you know? For, for him to just go back.

 

Patriece: I mean he missed a lot and I’m sure that he’s beating his self up daily. I can’t see why he would not do the right thing this time around, you know what I mean?

 

Sam: By who though?

 

Patriece: By you guys.

 

Sam: I don’t understand what that means.

 

Patriece: I mean it’s not like he can raise his children, you guys are adults, but going through manhood, you’ve never done that before, you know?

 

Sam: That sounds nice and all, but then when you think about it, it’s kinda like...who the fuck are you? You know? And it’s, of course he can teach me shit about being a man, but shit, he wasn’t even here. To show me what a man is really about.

 

00:28:56

Sam (voiceover): When I was growing up I ended up getting 2 strikes just living wild as a child. So I didn’t really think about what my life would be like if he came back because it didn’t matter, he wasn’t there. An I’m still struggling to figure it out now.

 

 

00:29:46

Mike: It’s Los Angeles. Harvey you wanna kick us off?

 

Harvey: (over phone) From my office we’ve gotten 20 ordered released as of yesterday, we’ve got three done yesterday, umm, I have currently 507 pending.

Mike: San Bernadino County:

 

Person on phone from San Bernadino: So far I think we have about 74 folks that were released.

 

00:30:09

Susan: We’re so lucky that we’ve gotten 1,500 out, 1,500 have been resentenced, but where are they gonna go? We do everything in our power to make that post release go as smoothly as we can, so that includes finding programs that will house them for nothing and that’s one of the things that we lose sleep over.

 

00:30:31 Meeting outside with man

 

Susan: So don’t be a stranger. Stay in touch and we’ll stay in touch with you. I’m gonna be here tomorrow so I may run in to you but make sure.

 

Man: Yeah I think Carlos is out tomorrow morning.

 

Susan: Yeah, exactly, but take the time you need okay.

 

Man: Oh yeah

 

Susan: And call us.

 

Man: I will

 

Susan: Alright, one more. Take care.

 

Man: It was a pleasure, I’m glad you came down. Okay, alright.

 

 

 

 SHANE VISIT

 

00:30:54

Mike: I do sincerely wonder if we’re doing this right. You know, we spend not as much time as I would like with our clients outside. You know, should we be here spending the day visiting Shane and Curtis and all this or should we be filing more petitions and dealing with the reentry folks and what not. And there’s only so much you can do, I mean. We can’t first of all force them into these programs, even if we could force them into the programs we can’t be here everyday, it’s far away.

 

00:31:29

Susan: I know, but I mean we’re lawyers, there are only so many things we can do.

 

00:31:44

Shane:  You know I’m good. I wake up in my bed and I’m like, okay I’m good.

 

Mike: Do you ever wake up and think, I am not in prison?

 

Shane: You know what, Mike it’s great I mean, I can’t, I can’t complain, you know what I mean? I got like just so much to do at all times, you know, I really wanna go to loyal folks.

 

Mike: Well first off can we help? And second what does it take?

 

Shane: Alls it takes is for me to get my license, you know, but, I just

 

Mike: Your driver’s license?

 

Shane: My driver’s license.

 

32:15

 

Shane: Right, but right now I’m kind of caught like in between. If I get my license it gives me too much freedom. You know what I mean? Bakersfield is just right there and I look out and I just like don’t think I’m ready for it yet.

 

Mike: I hear you and it takes a lot of insight to say I don’t know if I am ready for that.  You know you seem to get that it’s patience, I think I told you it’s like a marathon, not a sprint, and you look good.

 

32:54

Susan: Shane is like so many of our clients, he and his family were practically homeless half the time. He was exposed to drug use when he was really really young, and you just think, wow this person never had a chance.

 

Shane: His a biba girls. Who's a biggest girl ina whole wide world? Yes she is huh?

Shane and horses verite

 

00:33:22

Mike: For a generation the solution to poverty addiction and mental illness was to just put them in prison for the rest of their lives and you see that the curve of the prison population over the past 30 years is a steep mountain. We are still at the very beginning of turning the corner on mass incarceration and the people getting freed under Proposition 36 now is a tiny piece, a tiny sliver at the top of that mountain. So it is imperative for us on many different levels that they succeed.

 

BILAL RESUME

 

00:34:10

SUBTITLE: Home of the Loving Father Reentry Facility

            San Jose, CA

 

John: Put an employer’s name

 

Bilal: Previous employer?

 

John: What’d you do inside there?

 

Bilal: State of California

 

00:34:23

SUBTITLE: Bilal, five days post release

 

Bilal: State of California

 

John: Well what kind of work did you do in there?

 

Bilal: Well, actually I did shipping and receiving, delivery  and I drove -

 

John: I wouldn’t put any of that bro, I would just say see resume attached.

 

Bilal: Well I haven’t done the resume yet.

 

John: that’s when you turn it in with the resume. And just put see resume attached.

 

Bilal: Well what I do like is State of California, because it is the absolute truth. And it’s a W-4, that’s brand new to me again.

 

John: The W-4? you don’t fill that out bro until you get the job.

 

Bilal: I got the job, that’s why I’m filling it out.

 

John: Where at?

 

Bilal: I don’t know yet.  It’s either gonna be cosa lomra… or it’s gonna be Mi Pueblo. So when you come in, I gotta learn how to say Buenos Dias, good, uh huh.

 

John: You got that down. All you gotta ask them for is “dame mi cheque”.

 

Bilal: Dame mi cheque? What’s that? Give me your money.

 

John: Give me my cheque.

 

Man: Nah, bro- you aint trying to rob nobody no more. C’mon give me your money!

 

Bilal: Nah, man- I don’t know what he talking about. That’s what he said.

 

John: I said give me my check.

 

(men talking, laughing)

 

00:35:37

 

Bilal: Lifting weights. Long time. Trying to change our lives.

 

Man: Tt’s hard. We been clean for so long.

 

Bilal: I tell you this though. With opportunities and first to do right now, that we never had before. Come on man. We never had a chance. Never.

 

Man: no, no.

 

Bilal: And didn’t realize, when I first came out, I didn’t have a chance of making it. Didn’t have a chance.

 

00:36:07

Bilal: It used to be, here’s two hundred dollars, good luck. You’d go right back to the same neighborhood, go back to the same friends and it’s over for you. When I got out the last time I basically just came home, there was still crack around, still a lotta drug use, a lot of things in that world were still, still were still very prevalent.

 

Bilal: Have a good day. I’m nice and sweaty that’s the way I like it,

 

Man: Go take a shower homie (laughs).

 

 

KENNETH APPLYING FOR SCHOOL

00:36:46

Kenneth driving with his son and granddaughter.

 

Son: How’s mom doing?

 

00:36:54

SUBTITLE: Kenneth, six weeks post release.

 

Kenneth:I don’t know she uh, the last couple days, she sayin, move out. Before I got locked up I wish I’d gone to school. I think your mother wanted me to go to school, but I’m thinking I’m trying to help out with bills, and she had a said something I would’ve when on and went to school.

 

00:37:26

Kenneth at the the Los Angeles Trade Technical College as per sign.

 

Kenneth: This, this course here, I wanted to enroll in.

 

Clerk: Uh yeah, so you gotta apply first, did you apply online?

 

Kenneth: I didn’t apply online.

 

Clerk: Okay, so follow these instructions, and apply online.

 

Kenneth: Oh so I need to go online to get this taken care of first, huh?

 

Clerk: Well you apply first, that’s all.

 

Kenneth: Oh, alright.

 

Kenneth: Why you gotta apply online? That’s crazy ain't it? Why you go to the campus and you can’t apply.Technology is changing the world. Need help with that ice cream? No?

 

 

00:38:34

 

Kenneth: 34 pages this is the basic math. I haven’t seen any Algebra yet, I’m think my second semester of highschool, no that was Algebra too, flunked, I didn’t get a pass from that. No that’s the I-9 of whatever, the 1-9.

 

Monica: What’s that?

 

Kenneth: The 19 or whatever it was, looks like it’s 1 9 or I 9. I don’t know what this is.

 

Kenneth Son talking to his daughter: Trickle trickle...oh yeah!

 

 

 

00:39:29

Kenneth: When I first got out, I was like wow, I get back my family. Now, I’m at home. My kids have babies, but in my mind I am still seeing them as those kids that I left. And I’m uh just watching them. And I just watch and wait.

 

Kenneth: The hardest thing  I think is acclimating with Monica. She is a different person. That grew up while I was gone. You know what I mean, I’m starting over. What do I have for her? I don’t have nothing.  I really got a setback more than just going to prison.

 

 

 

BILAL VISITS MOM/HOME

 

00:40:35

SUBTITLE: Bilal, two months post-release

 

00:40:57

Bilal’s mom: High you!

 

Bilal: I’m alright and how are you? How you feel?

 

Mom: Good.

 

Bilal: Okay. Good.

 

Mom: That feel good huh?

 

Bilal: What did you eat?

 

Mom: I don’t know.

 

Bilal: You don’t know what you ate? How do you feel? You got your hair done too.

 

Mom: Mmm, hmm, where are you staying at Kevin?

 

Bilal: I’m staying at Piedmont Road over there, it’s perfect for you know the situation that’s going on. Yeah I get to come see you know and then. That’s the best thing right?

 

00:40:27

 

Mom: Yes that’s the very best thing.

 

Bilal: So I get to come see you and I’m not in trouble, right. Isn’t that what you want?

 

Mom: Yes, that’s exactly what I want.

 

Bilal: Okay so that’s how we’re going to work.

 

Mom: You will listen to me now.

 

Bilal: Absolutely.

 

00:41:41

Bilal: So what do you want to do Mom?

 

Mom: What do you want to do?

 

Bilal: I just want to spend some time with you that’s it.

                                   

Bilal: I had almost given up that the possibility of coming home was even going to be reality.  I felt bad that she did, uh, all that sacrifice for me and my brothers that I had let her down cause she didn’t deserve that.

 

Bilal: You look even better than you did the other day.

 

00:42:08

Bilal: I felt like she was never going to have the opportunity to see you know the goals and the morals that she instilled in me.

 

Bilal: So, My job is really good.

 

Mom: That’s nice.

 

Bilal: Well you would really like it. I’m pretty happy with it. I like it.

 

Mom: What do you have to do?

 

00:42:25

Bilal: I’m a material handler. I move material. From one building to the next. When they come in and ask for it then I help them move it. So it’s pretty cool. It’s pretty uh demanding and sometimes, sometimes it’s not too demanding at all. So it’s a pretty easy job. But I really like it though. So that’s what’s important.

 

00:42:46

Bilal: You know I really am like always.

 

Mom: My eye is itching me. Can you help me get it?

 

Bilal: I can see it.

 

Mom: Ooh that feel good Kevin.

 

Bilal: Let me get this right out your eyes. Alright momma. You gonna lay back down, whatcha gonna do? You wanna lay back down?

 

Mom: No I’ll sit back here. Just make sure that the hand is washed good. That’s right one things at a time.

 

Bilal: ok mom.

 

Mom: ok.

 

00:43:26

 

Bilal: I’m gonna go mom.

 

Mom: So when you be back?

 

Bilal: I think Thursday, maybe even sooner.

 

00:43:38

Bilal(voiceover): I try to stay from things that would give me the urge. I know a lot of things can bring back triggers. A lot of things can bring back old memories. Sights, places, the door to my room, the smells of the house, so that’s why I limit my amount of time, I stay there because it could be, it can be a big trigger. I cant imagine spending the night there being alone by myself.  Somebody else coming over, I don’t want to put myself in those situations.

 

 

LESTER WALLACE TRIAL/MCCOMBER

 

00:44:10

Sign reads: CLARA SHORTRIDGE FOLTS

            CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER

            COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

 

00:44:23

CARD: After the release of an initial group of Prop 36ers, prosecutors around the state unexpectedly begin challenging large numbers of resentencing petitions.

 

00:44:29

 

Court Voice: Please remain seated, come to order. Department 56W is now in session. The Honorable Williams C. Ryan judge presiding.

 

00:44:50                                          

Mike (voiceover): One of our very first clients was a guy named Lester Wallace. Who was actually arrested at 9 am the very first day that the three strikes law took effect for trying to steal a car radio from a parking lot at USC. So nobody had spent more time in prison under the 3 strikes law than Lester. You know that’s always the case that stays with me.

 

00:45:15

Judge Ryan: Alright, we’re here on People vs. Lester Wallace BA 092252 for a suitability hearing, Professor Romano you’re up.

 

Mike (verite): Thank you your honor, Mr. Subia, I only have a few questions. The district attorney said that quote a particular concern as petitioners was their complete lack of programming to address his addiction issues. That’s on page 2 of the district attorney’s report. Is Mr. Wallace eligible for such programming?

 

Dr: Um no. When you look at the subsidies treatment program, the department several years ago took out a 100 million dollar reduction in program dollars. The first people that are removed from vocational programming and/or work programs were the lifers. Mr. Wallace wouldn’t have been able to attend those programs whether he was wanting to volunteer for those programs or not. So to see a lifer inmate in a high level prison not eligible or involved in specific programming would not be unusual.

 

00:46:09

 

Judge Ryan: Alright thank you. You may step down. Your next witness professor.

 

Mike- Thank you, your honor. Uh Dr. Macaber in your report you state that Mr. Wallace told you he began to hear voices when he was 17 years old.

 

Dr: Yes.

 

Mike: Is this a symptom of severe mental illness?

 

Dr.: Yes.

 

Mike:  In your experience of pleasant valley, was this a hostile place, particularly for someone who was suffering from a mental illness?

 

Dr: They were generally hostile of all inmates.

 

Mike: Did correctional officers receive any special training or instructons relating to mentally ill prisoners?

 

Dr: No.

 

00:45:41

Mike: Thank you very much. No further questions at this time.

 

Judge: Okay Mr. Cheledon.

 

00:46:46

Robert Cheledon: Doctor, you’ve indicated your opinion that, uh, prison guards would often intimidate prisoners, is that correct?

 

Dr: Yes.

 

Robert: You report any misconduct that you observe?

 

Dr: No.

 

Robert: So you didn’t observe any?

 

Dr: Oh I observed it, but it wasn’t actual violent misconduct just hostile attitude.

 

00:47:08

 

Robert: But you also saw inmates to be hostile to correctional officers?

 

Dr: If they dare.

 

Robert: So you reported no misconduct, that’s correct?

 

Dr: True

 

Robert: I have no further questions. Thank you.

 

00:47:30

Mike- One of the things that we’ve realized the more time we spent in prison, the more time we spent with clients, the more clients we’ve met is that addiction is the problem, and mental health, mental illness is right there smashed on top of it. And there’s no infrastructure or services available to help. The conditions within the prison are exacerbating people’s mental illnesses, and people who are mentally ill self-medicate with drugs and there’s just not enough resources available to them.

 

00:48:11

 

Judge:  Alright, we’ll see everyone tomorrow. Defendants ordered out.

 

Mike:(speaking to group of people): I think the Judge understands where we’re going, and I don’t know if there’s much more that we can do.

 

00:48:27

Mike: Do you guys have any questions?

 

Man: Can you let him know that we all love him and we support him?

 

Mike: Absolutely. He knows, he was really happy to see all you guys. Trust me.

 

Group of family- This is my daughter and this is the first time she’s seen him.

 

Mike- I know it is hard.

 

 

SUBTITLE: Three months post-release

00:48:48

 

Monica (doing floor work): this is way too much work.

 

Monica: This is something you just realize ok, lord. How do I handle that, you know? By now Ken and I are just struggling.

 

00:49:09

Monica: You know he’s got memories of stuff that he said that took place but hasn’t -stop slamming the door kaya- but he doesn’t believe that it didn’t happen, you know what I mean? It didn’t happen. And I’m telling him, no, that didn’t happen. You know, so.

 

00:49:39

Kenneth: It almost seemed I have literally at some point repaired the same ceiling.  Something took place and you lost your memory and you are right back full circle repeating verbatim whatever days it was in the past.

 

00:49:59                              

Monica- How many people go to jail and come out different? Because of the stuff they see, I have been on the phone with Ken and heard screaming and hollering in the background. What is that? Oh, they are beating somebody up in the shower. And where are the correctional officers? Oh they are sitting up there in the booth They’re not doing anything? Nah. He was like not we not about to talk about that. I always told him, take care of you, because with all that you are seeing, if you don’t it’s, going to break wide open.

 

00:50:47

Background voices incoherent(as if they are in Kenneth’s head)

 

00:50:55

Kenneth:  I never had the memories of alternate lives until I went to prison. You get up in this hard place. You know it’s like, everyday you walking around on eggshells because you don’t want to get in a conflict. 

 

00:51:26

Kenneth: And then you go man I gotta deal with this for the rest of my life. This is crazy. So depression can kick in after a while. They sit there, listen to you, give you suggestions and say you know maybe today you should do some mantras. You know what do you got me diagnosed as? One of em said psychosis. One of them said I don’t know what to call it. And I broke.

 

00:52:03 BABY AND PATRIECE AND SAM

 

Soft talking

 

Sam: Lie on your stomach, I mean on your back.

 

Patriece: Can you feel something?

 

Sam: You think my dad will want to be in the room, when we have the baby?

 

Patriece: I do. I think so.  I don’t know how vocal he will be about it to us. But I think  that it will be a good thing for you and him like father, son type of thing.  What do you think? I mean, would you want him there?

 

00:53:00

Sam: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I would.

 

Sam: I really want a boy, but I dunno, I’m kinda nervous, scared, at the same time, knowing that being born as a black male that you’re already at a disadvantage to the world. Just hoping that I could teach him the right ways.

 

00:53:54

Kaylica: What you doing?

 

Kenneth: Texting your mom.

 

Kaylica: I gotta go pops.

 

Kenneth: Alright. Yup.

 

Kaylica at work.

 

00:54:30

Kaylica (talking to man): He was in for about 13, 13,14, cuz he qualified under the resentencing, since it changed his wasn’t a violent crime, so they had to resentence him and he was released.

 

Man: Is he alright?

 

Kaylica: Hopefully soon. he gets a break on a job. You know he’ll feel better about his self. I think.

 

Man: Because he’ll be contributing to society. Not that he has to prove anything to society. You know, repay that.

 

Kaylica: I just know that he wants to. But I don’t think he’s, you know how they say when you’ve been locked up for so long you become uh.

 

00:55:06

Man: Institutionalized?

 

Kaylica: Yeah, I don’t really see that too much in him.

 

Man: Is he scared to go anywhere?

 

Kaylica: Mm-mm he’s fixing stuff around the house, networking.

 

Man: My brother was arrested too, he came out like that institutionalized…

 

Kalycia: Yeah? Yeah I think he alright.

 

Man: He was busted since he was a youngster, a little kid in federal prison, he came out he was - he didn’t want to go from here to the corner.

 

Kaylica: No, he kinda just was like scared?

 

Man: Yeah he was I swear to God.

 

 

 

 

KENNETH AT WORK

 

Visual of Ken on transportation.

00:55:45 CARD: After a five month search, Kenneth finds a minimum wage job two hours from home.

 

Kenneth:  Last week when I got my paycheck I felt a sense of happiness from working. But everything’s still been a struggle. I’m having all these type of strange type of flashes going on in my head.  I was just praying the other day, oh my god, I need reality or I am going to crack.

 

00:56:48

Kenneth: I’m afraid to go one way or the other, because maybe trying to go right trigger this split. I’m afraid and I don’t know what to do.

 

00:57:06

Kenneth: Every now and then I have a dream where and I romanticize the cocaine in the dream, and I wake up it will be a nightmare. How do I get that out of my conscience, how do I cleanse the mind of desiring secretly to use drugs? Stop right there. That’s what got me locked up.

 

 

KENNETH AT CHURCH

 

57:52

Preacher: God will erase your past. Because your past is not your future. Oh my God! You’re past is not your future I don’t care what you’ve done in your past. I don’t care how your yesterday was. God has a greater day for you.

 

58:15

Preacher: It’s a miracle walked up in this church today. Kenneth Anderson is a miracle. He is a God given miracle.

 

58:25

Preacher: As long as you don’t look backwards, from the life that you’ve come from. You’re gonna have a job. A respected life. It’s going to be like you never went in through that trouble. Trust me when I tell you. The scripture says shun the very appearance of evil. You can’t even be around. God says he’s gonna lavish you with a career. Not just a job, a career for your family. Your wife and children all respect you. All love you like you have never been loved before. God says I hide your record, I hide your record, it’s not even going to be considered. It’s not going to be considered. I hide your record. In the name of Jesus. You will work. You will be an upstanding citizen in this community. In the name of Jesus you will be highly respected. You will be highly regarded. You have not lost anything but you will gain the wisdom and the power of the Lord- and you have gained my savior. You have gained my savior. I favor you, I thank you.

 

 

 BILAL AND PAROLE OFFICER

 

01:00:31

SUBTITLE: Bilal, six months post-release

 

01:00:39

TITLE: As part of his resentencing agreement, Bilal is required to report to a parole officer.

 

Bilal: I said ok well can I come in early. He said no, you can’t come in early. I said well ok, can I come in a little later. “No” I don’t stay and wait for you. Now if I don’t find a way to break the rules at my job then I will be in trouble with him.

 

01:01:03

Bilal: Okay, thank you. That’s crazy that’s judge Navaro. Guy sentenced me to 150 to life. Wow it’s hard to look at. Looks just like me.

 

01:01:51

Man: Fill it up halfway please. Turn on the water for a little added motivation.

 

(Kevin pees into the cup)

 

01:02:19

Man : You’re going to put the lid on. Make sure it’s on their square and tight. Put the label up here face it my way. You’re going to dump it out in like 30 seconds.

 

Man: And it’s clean. Just take it and dump it out in the toilet and throw the cup away in the garbage and let’s go and sit down and have a conversation. If you wouldn’t mind flushing the toilet we are all done.

 

1:02:56

 

Bilal: I paid my debt to society. I paid my restitution. I stayed out of trouble. Why is my criminal history always gonna be at the forefront of who I am? It does not define who I am anymore. Brutally honest, that bothers me, and hurts me and worries me, but  I can’t crumble. Hey you can’t give up, you got to keep going. I can’t quit. Just got to keep moving.

 

 

KENNETH LOSES JOB/LEAVES

 

01:03:47

TITLE: After two months on the job, Kenneth is fired.

 

 

01:04:12

Kaylica: Hey dad, it’s Kaylica, give me a call back when you get this message please. I’m trying to see if you’re going to be able to um come for Kaya’s play at the church. Starts at five so call me back when you get this. Love you, bye.

 

POST KENNETH DEPARTURE-

 

 01:04:30

background cursing: I will beat your fucking sorry ass. Son of a bitch. Fuck you. Fuck you, bastard. Fuck you, son of a bitch. This ain’t your fucking business. Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up.

 

01:05:34

Teacher: 5 little sharks in the sea…..momma calls the dr worried as can be.

 

01:05:55

SUBTITLE: Kenneth has been missing for two days

 

01:06:02

Monica: If you um hear from um Ken tell him to try and call me I need to know.

 

Monica: Ok. I will figure out something.

 

Fourth of July

 

1:07:01

Kenneth (Audio) Hello, this is Kenneth. I was calling you, because I can clearly see that I need psychological counselling, and I need help. I’ve been using drugs. So, right now I’m sleeping in my car and I need help.

 

1:08:01

Kaya: Mom can I take the ponytail out your hair.

 

Kaylica: No because my hair is messed up, I wanna ask you a question, sit down.

 

Kaya: Yes.

 

Kaylica: Can you sit down? Since we have alone time and we never have alone time because people love us so much, um I wanted to ask you.

 

Kaylica (voiceover):He didn’t have too much to say. He was kinda like I messed up. And my daughter was crying and it took me back because I remember when I was a kid. You know, and experiencing him leaving and when she was crying and stuff, I was holding her and was like you know it’ll be okay, grandpa still loves you, and you know he just has to do something for him. You know he has to take care of himself. It’s like we’ve broken up, and then came back together, and then life continued and it’s not all peaches and cream, you know?

 

00:09:13

Kenneth’s son: You know, still without a father, even though he’s out, and I really, to be honest, don’t think he’s ready to be that person that I want him to be. Hopefully he could get it together. Hopefully he could figure it out.

 

Monica (VO): I was hurt. I was hurt. Okay, fine. That’s what you want to do, go ahead and do that. But I’m not riding a roller coaster. I can’t put me through that. And I refuse to put another generation through that.

 

1:09:49 LESTER WALLACE TRIAL (3)

 

Judge Ryan: Good morning everyone. We’re in session again, people vs. Lester Wallace

This is the time for final argument. Mr. Cheledon, you get to open and close.

 

Cheledon: Basically your honor, there hasn’t been a lot of evidence presented by the defense of serious mental illness.

 

Ryan: Wait a minute you don’t think a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is not a serious mental illness?

 

Cheledon: Where is that in the evidence?

 

Ryan: It’s in dr. Macombre’s report under Axis 1, which is a standard DSM diagnosis. You say he’s unqualified to diagnose?

 

Cheledon: I’m not saying he’s unqualified to diagnose. I’m saying there wasn’t much evidence of what he based that on other than talking to him for three hours.

 

01:10:32

Mike: Almost exactly 20 years ago today, on the very first day that the three strikes law took effect, Mr. Wallace is arrested in the parking lot of USC for trying to steal a car radio. No one has served more time under the three strikes law than Mr. Wallace. And I hope that you will give him to live out his days outside of prison walls. You have a chance to save his life today. And with that I respectfully request that you grant Mr. Wallace’s petition for resentencing.

 

Judge Ryan: Thank you, professor.

 

 01:11:04

Mike (VO): I think we should punish people who commit crimes. But how much? There has to be a proportionality, there has to be fairness, and there has to be effectiveness. You do not need these extraordinarily long sentences in order to keep the public safe. And in fact they are detrimental, we are creating under classes of people who can’t get out of prison and we’re destroying families and neighborhoods. We as a society have to take some responsibility for what we’ve done, and try to fix it.

 

Ryan: Alright the court will take the matter under submission, under the California constitution I have 90 days to rule but I won’t take that long. You’ll get a written decision. Okay, thank you.

 

Mike: They’re gonna take you to Stockton. If you get out, I will come out and pick you up. Call me. Bye Lester.

 

KENNETH AT AMITY

 

01:12:12

SIGN READS: WELCOME TO AMISTAD

 

Kenneth: Somebody told me that I needed to go to a transition home. And I was like, for what, I got a family.  But something happened while I was in prison. Whatever is going on that causing me to see all these bits and pieces, all this cloudiness. I think it’s a necessary step for me to be here, and allow them to help me go where it is I am going. I ain’t doing this for Monica, I’m not doing this for the kids. I’m here because I don’t want to destroy myself.  I don’t really have too many dreams at the moment. I know what I want but I am not going to try to, you know what I mean, put that ahead of this core issue.

 

 

THANKSGIVING

 

01:13:36

SUBTITLE: Thanksgiving, eleven months post-release

 

Monica: He used to say all the time, they treat you like a dog. They don’t treat you like you’re human. You know they needed help, not a long prison time. Because if we can help them, think about who they can help.

 

01:14:13

Monica (carrying out the Turkey): This is a first. I’m gonna carry it with us some things.

 

Monica (VO): So, I said Ken, I love you and you’re not banned from the family. Just- you can’t live with us right now because you need to work out some situations in your life and figure out what it is you need to do.

 

01:14:33

Kaylica (VO): Sitting down talking about his past I feel like I’m getting to really know him. While he was gone it was kinda like I just wanted him there but I didn’t know much about him. And now I’m learning about him, I just – I love that (laughs).

 

 

KENNETH AND GRANDCHILD

01:14:54

Kenneth: Hello. Hey sugar.

 

Kenneth: I got it. (picking up granddaughter) The whole blanket and everything. (baby cries). I said yeah they got me. You can relax. It’s old grandpa.

 

01:15:24

Sam (VO): When I think about my dad, the relapsing and stuff, I just think that he’s just trying to find a way to get back into life. I feel like it overwhelmed him. I feel like he tried to find a way to get rid of that feeling, and um I can’t fault you for that.

 

Kenneth: (to baby) it’s been so long since I put a bottle in a baby’s mouth my goodness. Sweet smile.

 

01:16:08

Kenneth (voiceover): Man I want to be in their lives so badly. But it’s just hard that’s why you got to suffer. You know. Wow. The system is a beast. But I got another chance. I got a bunch of grandkids to help. And a bunch of grandkids, and my kids, I see they still need a father. You know I’ ve been yearning for freedom even though I have been walking around free. I’m ready to go ahead and live.

 

 

 

BILAL POST 11 MONTHS.

 

01:17:04

SUBTITLE: Bilal, eleven months post release

 

Bilal: Do you work down by this way?

 

Man: I work right here off of the street.

 

Bilal:  Because I see you all the time.

 

Man: Yeah

 

01:17:23

Bilal:  I’m working. Trying to do the right thing. Trying to stay focused. Getting on all these buses and light rails and all that stuff every single solitary day and you got to do what you got to do to make sure it works.

 

Man: Exactly.

 

Bilal: Stay out of trouble man.

 

1:17:41

Bilal: I got your donut bro. Yeah, I am sure. I got you.

 

Man: Alright brother, I will see you then.

 

00:17:58

Bilal (voiceover): Today my life is full you know. I have 12 years and 6 months clean and sober. I go see my mother about twice a week. I have a job that I am very proud of and focused with. You know its funny but at the end of the year, I look forward to paying taxes, I look forward to voting coming up.

 

01:18:25

Bilal (verite): Yesterday when I took a dozen donuts of these and my other coworker brang a dozen from somewhere else. And everybody kept eating these and saying where did you these at Kevin? Where did you get these at? I tell them, my spot.

 

Woman: They liked it.

 

Bilal (verite): Yeah they liked them. They really do. Bye.

 

Woman: Bye!

 

 

01:18:56

Bilal: Sometimes we take so many things for granted. It’s very simple though. The worst day out here is better than the best day in jail. I can be out here on my way to work in traffic, hot, and people can be honking horns. I can switch lanes. I can pullover. Life is absolutely wonderful in the middle of traffic.

 

 

Mike (voiceover): When people think about our individual clients who are being released, they see these redemption stories, and in some ways they are. But I think that it’s also redemption for the state of California that led the nation in putting these guys away forever and how can we turn this system around? We as a society have to take responsibility for what we have done and try to fix it.

 

 

 

EPILOGUE CARDS

01:19:34

CARD: Since Prop 36 passed, 2,100 Three Strikers have been released and their recidivism rate is under 9% - far below the national average.

 

01:19:44

CARD: It is estimated that the reform will save California nearly 1.3 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

 

Mike and Susan walking through hallway.

 

Mike: Alright, is Stanley all squared away?

 

Susan: Yes, he’s totally set for the…

 

01:19:55

 

CARD: Mike and Susan continue to advocate for reform and : reentry support nationwide. Judge Ryan granted Lester Wallace’s petition, and he was released after over 20 years in prison.

 

 

01:20:11

Bilal golfing with friend.

Bilal: I don’t know if I told you, so now I got promoted to Supervisor.

 

Man: Really?

 

Bilal: Yeah (laughs).

 

01:20:18

CARD: Bilal was named employee of the year at Levi’s Stadium, recently got married and continues to visit his mother weekly.

 

1:20:20

Kenneth: That’s check (laughs).

 

01:20:34

CARD: The Anderson family continues to visit with Kenneth as he struggles to get on his feet.

 

01:20:44

CREDITS

 

01:21:36

END