By:  Lane Michael Stanley

My first day in San Quentin was filled with hugs.

We walked the yard in street clothes, my cinematographer and I trailing with handheld equipment behind our documentary subjects, Dwight, Billy and Richie. It turns out that walking a prison yard with guys who have gotten out is what I imagine hanging out with a movie star to be like.

All three of our subjects were paroled in 2020: Richie after 34.5 years, Dwight after 18 years and Billy after 17 years of incarceration. Each of them spent time at several California prisons, but they all finished their sentences together at San Quentin, and on the day of their return were greeted with joy by old friends.

Click here to read Lane’s documentary journey.