Stateville Calling (2019)

Is Rehabilitation a Right?

Stateville Calling (2019) poster

Stateville Calling is a documentary exploring parole reform and the struggle of aging inmates in Illinois. Bill Ryan, 84-years-old and with a southern drawl from his Kentucky upbringing, has spent the last several decades befriending and advocating on behalf of a group of men and women incarcerated for life, helping to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, publishing a newspaper written by prisoners, and ceaselessly negotiating with victim's advocates, legislators and lobbyists from both sides of the aisle. The hour-long film illustrates the forces that created our system, and surveys the competing arguments and data points at play to equip viewers to decide for themselves what should be done about criminal justice in Illinois.

Director: Ben Kolak
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 60 min
Release Date:
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Ben Kolak
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stateville Calling about?
Stateville Calling is a documentary exploring parole reform and the struggle of aging inmates in Illinois. Bill Ryan, 84-years-old and with a southern drawl from his Kentucky upbringing, has spent the last several decades befriending and advocating on behalf of a group of men and women incarcerated for life, helping to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, publishing a newspaper written by prisoners, and ceaselessly negotiating with victim's advocates, legislators and lobbyists from both sides of the aisle. The hour-long film illustrates the forces that created our system, and surveys the competing arguments and data points at play to equip viewers to decide for themselves what should be done about criminal justice in Illinois.
Who directed Stateville Calling?
Stateville Calling was directed by Ben Kolak.
How long is Stateville Calling?
Stateville Calling has a runtime of 1h 0m (60 minutes).
What genre is Stateville Calling?
Stateville Calling is a Documentary film.