The Prison Within (2020)

The Prison Within exposes the devastating impact untreated trauma has on individuals and communities through the powerful stories of survivors of violent crimes and prisoners incarcerated for murder in San Quentin prison. Prisoners and survivors come together and participate in the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG)—an innovative restorative justice program which enables prisoners to discover how the trauma they’ve experienced contributed to their criminality and to understand the impact their crimes have on their victims. Together, both prisoners and survivors confront and expose the pain, shame, and violence caused by the trauma they’ve experienced throughout their lives. The transformation reveals how the fallout from untreated trauma ultimately affects the entire community. This film serves as an example of how all people can change, how we can evolve as a community, and the power of connecting to the humanity in others, even those who have committed harm.