Crime and criminals are a reflection of a complex interplay of legal, social and economic conditions. Gabriel Media's goal is to facilitate a conversation that will lead to a better understanding of how these different elements play a role in our justice system and how the system can be improved to the benefit of both society and incarcerated populations.

When The Farm was released in 1998, Gabriel Films developed an educational outreach campaign in Louisiana. Partnerships were forged with schools, juvenile detention centers, halfway homes, prisons, and state administrators to use the documentary to enhance public understanding of criminal justice and serve in intervention programs for at-risk populations. These activities were sponsored by the Open Society Institute, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and The Puffin Foundation.

Events included:

* Town Hall meetings to engage politicians, prison staff and the families of victims and criminals in a constructive dialogue about crimeand punishment in America.

* College/University screenings and panel discussions to link the academic worlds of legal theory and criminal law to the realities presented by the film.

* Middle/high school programs to fill a crucial gap in American secondary school curricula. By watching and discussing the details of prison life, students were introduced to the 'reality' of crime and punishment rarely seen in glamorized television shows and movies.

* Interventions in juvenile detention centers to establish a dialogue between young offenders and inmates serving long or life sentences. Screenings of the film were followed by presentations by Angola inmates about their experiences behind bars.

Some results in Louisiana:

The Farm is currently shown to all new corrections employees in Louisiana.

The Farm was shown in many juvenile delinquent detention centers / followed by a discussion with an inmate from Angola.

The Farm was shown in many public, middle and high schools with accompanying guides and speakers.

Some 24 speakers and approximately 1,000 audience members attended community meetings to discuss criminal justice topics.

Gabriel Media's goal is to develop a similar campaign with The Farm on a national level. Speakers and experts who may participate in educational forums:

- Ashanti Witherspoon, former Angola inmate, director of community outreach for a halfway house in Louisiana.

- Filmmakers.

- Experts on criminal justice and criminal justice practitioners.

If you are interested in these programs or can help us develop these activities, please contact us HERE.