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Civil Death explores the lasting, invisible punishments faced by formerly incarcerated people - and the growing movement to dismantle them. Each year, over 650,000 people leave U.S. prisons. But for many, freedom is just the beginning of a new kind of sentence. In Illinois alone, 4 million people — nearly 1 in 4 — carry criminal records that block access to jobs, housing, education, and basic rights of citizenship.
Rooted in the ancient concept of civil death, this film follows real people and real policy change, challenging the ingrained practices of permanent punishment. The feature-length documentary film flips the script on how we view formerly incarcerated people. It reveals their strength, struggle, and humanity and asks us to imagine real redemption, forgiveness, and justice. When does punishment finally end?
Civil Death explores the lasting, invisible punishments faced by formerly incarcerated people - and the growing movement to dismantle them. Each year, over 650,000 people leave U.S. prisons. But for many, freedom is just the beginning of a new kind of sentence. In Illinois alone, 4 million people — nearly 1 in 4 — carry criminal records that block access to jobs, housing, education, and basic rights of citizenship.
Rooted in the ancient concept of civil death, this film follows real people and real policy change, challenging the ingrained practices of permanent punishment. The feature-length documentary film flips the script on how we view formerly incarcerated people. It reveals their strength, struggle, and humanity and asks us to imagine real redemption, forgiveness, and justice. When does punishment finally end?