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THE PROJECT

We're working with The Reentry Project to create an online, multimedia experience that will challenge people's perception of what someone with a criminal record looks like. This is currently planned through three pieces:

  • An online challenge to identify those with a criminal history from those without, with the expectation that one cannot tell the difference from another.

  • A portrait series of all participants involved.

  • A video series that will provide all participants an opportunity to explain their experiences.

To enhance the usefulness of the interviews, the individuals who do not have a criminal history will be pulled from various actors in criminal justice (law enforcement, judicial system, penal system, government, media, nonprofits.) This will ensure that all interviewees add to the discussion surrounding reentry.


PRODUCTION

The photo and video production will take place over several days at Eastern State Penitentiary, who has offered to support this project. This historic site will serve as a backdrop for this conversation on incarceration and reentry.


DEVELOPMENT ROLES

We’re looking to bring on several talented individuals to create an engaging, interactive and high-quality presentation for this project on the web. The selected team will be able to use their technology of choice and will have input in the vision for the final project. The current roles we’re looking to fill are:

  • Senior Front-End Web Developer
  • Junior Front-End Web Developer
  • Web/Multimedia Designer
  • Project Manager
  • Community Outreach/Researcher

MOCKUP

Here is an early mockup to illustrate what the project could look like. Working with developers, the final product may differ significantly, but the core principle should be the same: challenge perceptions and provide an opportunity for voices to be heard.


FUNDING

While we're looking into grants and funding, the initial expectation is that this will be an all-volunteer project. Any funding will help with equipment rentals, web expenses and compensating project volunteers as much as possible for their time.


If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to kriston@kjbethel.com.

Project Activity

Update #1

I wanted to provide a bit of background on myself and the inspiration behind (Un)Incarcerated. I work as an independent editorial and documentary photographer, covering stories in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. I also teach journalism at Temple University, where I graduated with a degree in journalism and political science. Last year, I spent time helping behind the scenes on some reporting with The Reentry Project, a collaborative between various Philly newsrooms to cover stories on prisoners returning to their communities and the people who are helping them do it.

Back in November, I attended The Reentry Blueprint: Stories and Solutions from the Formerly Incarcerated, a night of short, TED Talk-style conversations that highlighted problems and presented solutions to issues of reentry. Near the start of the evening's event, anyone who had ever been to prison was invited to stand up and be acknowledged. Given the nature of the event, I knew the formerly incarcerated were obviously among the crowd, mixed in with community. But even after spending months covering these issues myself, I was still surprised by the number and diversity of people that stood, fracturing my expectations for age, gender and ethnicity.

Bringing that moment to others is at the heart of (Un)Incarcerated. To develop a project that recreates and expands on that experience. To break down the wall that is built up around the 1-in-6 people in Philadelphia that have been incarcerated, despite having served their time. To both challenge how we see the formerly incarcerated and to better educate ourselves on their experience.