On January 24, 2008, I showed Goro Toshima’s documentary A Hard Straight (available at www.newday.com) to my class of probationers at the Richmond Women’s Detention Center. It was the first time that I had shown the film to a class. I had viewed the film once before and enjoyed it immensely. I hoped my women would get as much out of it as I did. Now, my experience with showing a film in class is usually a mixed bag. For some students, a film means they have been given the opportunity to nap. For others, they stare vacantly at the screen. It is usually a rare few who get engrossed in what they are watching despite how interesting the content it. For once, every eye was glued to the screen and it was obvious that the entire class was rapt with fascination over seeing the lives of the three documentary participants unfold before them.

A Hard Straight follows three probationers (two men and one women) from the moment of their release from California penal institutions to their new lives back with their families and friends. Director Goro Toshima intimately takes us into these probationers’ lives to see their ups and downs and struggles with their criminal thinking and addiction.

As opposed to giving you a summation and review of the film from my perspective, I thought I would let the words and insights of my students speak for the film.

I definitely intend on using this film with all of my groups. It is a great new tool to have in my bag of tricks, and I hope the words of my women show you just how wonderful it is and how much it meant to them.

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“My reaction to this movie was interesting.

Richard was a very sad little boy on the inside. At times, in the movie, I could see the sadness in his eyes. He did say that things went wrong with his mother when he was little. With all of his anger he has built up inside, it has helped turn him into the troubled Gang Banger he is. I believe he did well [on probation] and I was surprised he only went back [to jail] for 12 months on a battery charge.

As for Shepard, I didn’t like him from the beginning. I could see it in his eyes that he truly didn’t want to do the right thing. He burnt all of his bridges which is why he never had a safe place to go to. He knew he was making those wrong choices that would land him back in prison. I believe that he will one day end up back in prison to stay.

And then there was Regina. I didn’t much care for her either. But, I have to admit that she surprised me in the end. I didn’t think she was going to stay clean. But they do say that sometimes it takes a person to relapse before they can truly recover, and that’s what I think happened with her. I think she could have tried a little harder to stay clean to begin with though. I don’t think she loved her kids as she said she did. But once addicted to drugs, nothing else truly matters. I know because I’ve been there.”

- Kristen H.

“This movie was definitely a wake-up call to my repeat behavior and just how strong addiction is. After someone being locked up for 7 years and using again, it is just one example of the strength of addiction. It is a disease. And it terrifies me to think that my disease will overcome me again and I’ll end up back in jail or maybe dead.

I definitely think you need to set goals and have a plan for your release – and commit yourself to that plan. Commitment is a big step in a recovery process. I just hope that I’ll be able to commit myself to my own recovery and stay focused.”

- Carrie T.

“I think the movie I saw was like a wake-up because I know that it’s gonna be hard when I leave out., but I know if I just follow the things that I need to do then I know that I can make it out through this in the world. It took me three times getting locked-up to me want to stop using drugs and throwing my life away.

Now Regina, I can see that she was trying to change and make her life better because even though she messed up, she never gave up trying and I saw the strength in her.

Now Smiley, I thought he was going to make it because he was doing good on his tattoo job and making money, but he just didn’t have a steady job.

And Arron, I saw him in me. He kept messing up and getting out and going back in.”

- Gloria C.

“My take on this movie is that it is a positive movie about three people. Regina was struggling with speed and alcohol addiction. She relapsed several times and went into treatment, but in the end, she got her act together and ended up getting a job at a hospital.

There was a man named Aaron Shepard who had several probation violations. For 6 of them, he spent 12 months of prison time [for each violation].

The man named “Smiley” was a gang banger and spent seven and a half years in prison. He got out and started doing tattoos. He went back to his ex-girlfriend who got pregnant with his son. He was doing good until his son was 4 months old and then he went to jail for 12 months on an assault and battery charge.

What I got out of this movie was that I see how hard it is to get released from prison or jail and have to face the struggles of everyday life again. When I get released from this program, I have some understanding what it is going to be like. I won’t be overwhelmed by the stuff I have to face. But overall, the movie was a eye opener for me and my behavior.”

- Valerie D.

“I really enjoyed this movie and I could relate to each and every one of the people. I very easily could be in the same situation as any one of them and it is definitely another wake-up call for me.”

- Christi C.

“This documentary to me was a big eye opener. I saw a lot of myself in the individuals filmed. I loved it and learned a lot from it.”

- Andrea C.

“[This movie] made me think about all of the situations I’m going to be faced with when I get out. When I saw the people mess up, I thought that could easily be me when I get out, so I am worried that can’t do what it takes to stay clean. It’s scary to watch people do time and try so hard to do right when they go home and fail. It makes me want to do good when I go home. It also makes me want to be a better mother to my son.”

- Chanfrasta B.

“There were a lot of strong feelings that I felt when I watched this. It made me realize the reality of how life will be once I am released. I felt the anticipation of going home to my kids and family. There is always a fear of the unknown and uncertainty of life I am scared to actually try to live a normal life lived crime free. Most of these feelings are very similar between newly released probationers.

There is such a thing as WRONG TIME AND WRONG PLACE. It does happen to good people. Many tests and trials are going to come your way. All of the possibilities that may happen and troubles that can arise are unpredictable. You may need to change your people, places, and things that have been trouble in the past. There are possibilities of a child resenting you, losing a parent, or losing a child. There is, however, a big key in not getting locked back up. That is communication – with your support system and your probation officer.

The only way I think I can cope and remain free with my loved ones is to not take on too much. When I get overwhelmed with failure, I need to press on and communicate – not blame others. I need to quit making excuses for all of my faults. I need to face them head on. I have to become willing to accept that others may not understand me and my addiction. Most importantly, I need to turn my life over to God and do everything I have to in order to remain free.

This movie is awesome and I suggest that addicts and criminals watch it. It has opened my eyes to see that even though we are all different, our feelings, tests, and trials are all similar.”

- Miranda N.

“ Regina – I feel that Regina was doing good at first. But I guess once her husband passed away, it made her relapse a little. I think she let her children down at first, but she came out fine. It took her a lot of will power and tough love from her daughter to do right.

Sheppard – He looks like he is going to be right back in prison! Well, when he first got out he was drinking and his friend looked like a drug addict. His problem is that needs a reality check. I understand that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he knows he is in a drug related area, so he needs to relocate. He isn’t going to learn – he’s been back too many times.

Smiley – I thought he was going to fall back into the gang life even though he hung out with his friends, but he didn’t. He tried to pursue his art career. He wants to do tattoos and he does an excellent job. He can do it if he goes to the right places. It was sad find out that his son had died, but he was blessed with another and he turns around and lets his temper get him back in the situation he came out of.

Well, I’ve been back and forth, but I had time to sit back and evaluate myself. I’ve hurt my kids too many times. And this is my wake-up call. I’m in a program to better myself ‘cause sitting in prison doesn’t teach you anything but how to become a better criminal.”

- Renita O.

“The movie was very realistic. It showed how going back and forth to the same people, places, and things will cause people to endanger themselves and their freedom. It sounded that each of the participants did not realize the difficulties of the release process, nor did they notice that their behavior changed their loved ones. On the other hand, they did see all of the changes taking place and were all concerned. I can only hope that more services (i.e., housing, money, and counseling) for released inmates becomes a major concern. I think it would greatly reduce re-offending.”

- S. Perri

“The overall movie, I really enjoyed. Everything was based on true events. With each person, I could see myself within them even though I have not been to prison.

This film shows what could happen if you don’t use the tools as well as the focus you will need to face certain situations. I feel that society does not have enough options for ex-offenders to return to society. From jobs to training to housing and benefits, facing the outside can be difficult. Even though we’ve made mistakes, I think those that want to change should be given every opportunity that is available to become a model citizen.”

- Theresa L.

“Why would someone put their family through so much bullshit? I truly don’t understand why people would do this to themselves. I don’t understand people with addictions. They don’t want anything out of life. I feel if you have an addiction, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. If addicts truly want help, they will ask for it on their own time. You were not put on this earth to be an addict to any type of drugs. You have to make a timely decision every minute of your day to want to stay clean. Don’t get help for your family, get it for yourself. Only God knows what path you are going to take in this life.”

- Christie J.

“It hurt me to watch this movie because all I see is me and it is not a pretty sight. I hate it. I hate seeing people waste their life. I wonder why it happens to people and why there are drugs that hurt people in the first place. Why would God make things that would hurt us?

I see the hurt in people when their family wants nothing to do with them, kick them out, and not let them know how much they love them. That makes a lot of people use again. Losing someone you love is one of the worst things ever because one of the first thoughts you have is that it is your fault and wonder what you could have done to make things different. When there is so much stuff going on in your head, it drives you crazy and drugs make it better. You don’t think about things. However, when you do this you mess up your child’s life, making promises you can’t keep and providing them with a bad role model who is doing everything wrong. You can also get yourself into a cycle of abuse, be it verbal or physical, making you hurt inside and out.

This is what I have learned about myself and my life from this video. Most important though, I have learned to not take life for granted, because you never know what will happen.”

- Mary M.

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Whether you have seen the film or not, now that you have read the above reactions, do you have any thoughts or actions to their words? Are you interested in seeing the film and/or knowing more about it? The floor is open…DISCUSS!!!!!

Matthew D. Koval
Transition Specialist/Academic Instructor
CEA Female Offender SIG Chair
Department of Correctional Education
Richmond Women's Detention Center
7 North Second Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804.692.0229
804.371.0621 (FAX)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2008 02:23PM by mdkoval.

In May of 2007, I lead a discussion in Tapped In with Goro Toshima as the guest speaker. I've attached the transcript of that discussion. Goro is very kind and open to contacts. I screened A Hard Straight at the 2007 International CEA Conference in Atlanta. This documentary provides wonderful opportunities to discuss transitions programs and what can be done to overcome the dismal lack of success for released inmates.

BJ Berquist
JUV SIG Chair

Sorry, that reply was kind of rude! I should have also mentioned that I love that your ladies are doing some reflective writing! I teach male juveniles and post to a blog that offers topics that might also engage your residents. I'd also love to get suggestions for future topics. You can read our blog at [voicesfromloysville.blogspot.com]

The boys submit their writing in their journals and I post to the blog. Even if they are not able to access the internet, they really engage in writing for an authentic audience. Occassionally I will use a projector and show them that their writing really is on the Web ;-)

BJ Berquist
JUV SIG Chair

Hi, Matt,

How long is this film? How expensive was it? I wonder if you could share a bit of it with your fellow DCE CC teachers at our next meeting.

I've shown this documentary to my male juveniles and posted information on the Juvenile forum. Please take a moment to look at the responses and post comments to our blog.

BJ Berquist
JUV SIG Chair

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