go back to Shows
College Behind Bars show's poster

College Behind Bars

College Behind Bars is the inspiring, emotional, deeply human story of men and women struggling to earn college degrees while in prison for serious crimes. In four years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts, and prepare to return to society. A groundbreaking exploration of incarceration, injustice, race in America, and the transformative power of education.

Latest episode

RMPBS Passport

Please log in to your PBS Passport account to watch this video

Become a Member

Part 4: 'Home is a Work in Progress'

Season 1 Episode 4 | 57m 29s | CC

The debate union faces Harvard. While Rodney and Sebastian complete their 100-page senior projects and present them to faculty, Giovannie gets into trouble and is sent to SHU, not able to complete his project before being released. At graduation at Taconic, Tamara, Tamika and Shawnta receive associate degrees, while at Eastern, Rodney and Sebastian receive bachelor’s degrees.

Episodes

Funding for College Behind Bars is provided by Bank of America; PBS; Ford Foundation / JustFilms; National Endowment for the Humanities; Meg & Tomas Bergstrand; Regina K. Scully; The Lise Strickler & Mark Gallogly Charitable Fund; a fund at The New York Community Trust; Patty Quillin through the Meadow Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation; Barbara & Richard Novick; Chicken & Egg Pictures; The William H. Donner Foundation; Hartley Film Foundation; Bertha Foundation; The Harnisch Foundation; Compton Foundation; and Lisa Philp; and members of The Better Angels Society: John & Catherine Debs, The Cousins Foundation, Inc., Abrams Foundation, Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, Ted Dintersmith & Elizabeth Hazard, McCloskey Family Charitable Trust, and Donna & Dick Strong

Related stories

Rocky Mountain PBS
Culture, kimchi and community at 9,000 feet
The Korean Cultural Heritage Camp offers adopted children from South Korean and their adoptive families a chance to learn more about South Korean culture and community.
 | Chase McCleary
Rocky Mountain PBS
Juneteenth celebration upholds ‘crown jewel’ of Black culture in Denver
Nearly 30,000 people celebrated Juneteenth in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. The festival’s organizers said it’s an anchor of Black culture and celebration.
 | Alison Berg
Rocky Mountain PBS
Through food and unity, the Hispanic Restaurant Association celebrates Latin American culture
During a time of tremendous personal and financial loss, the Hispanic Restaurant Association was created to help Hispanic-owned businesses get back on their feet and to cultivate the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs.
 | Lindsey Ford, Alexis Kikoen