"Almost Home" is a sixty-minute documentary that examines the many challenges individuals face when they get released from prison and the positive impact they can have if they are given the tools to succeed.

In the United States, more than 600,000 people return home from incarceration each year, often with little support or stability. For people who live in the shadows of their criminal records, overcoming the extensive legal restrictions and social stigmas is a daunting task. Once released from the prison gates, individuals face staggering rates of unemployment, discrimination, and homelessness. Without the support needed to overcome these devastating barriers, people often return to illegal activities just to survive.

This unique film follows formerly incarcerated students enrolled in an innovative program at a community college in Southern California. Their inspiring stories illustrate how education and support can transform lives, open doors to new careers, heal trauma, and uplift entire families and communities.

Documentary | 1hr

Director: Bill Wisneski

The formerly incarcerated community is one of the most misunderstood groups in the country. Spending the past two years getting to know the amazing students at Palomar College who had recently been released from prison, has been an extremely rewarding and eye-opening experience.

Regardless of our backgrounds, everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated. No one wants to be discriminated against because of how they look or because of the mistakes they made twenty years ago. People’s basic needs must be taken care of before they can address any other issues in their lives. During our filming I witnessed how positivity can be contagious. It spreads and gives hope to others who have felt trapped in an existence they do not want. Many negative stereotypes are consistently perpetuated about people who have been incarcerated, so my goal with our documentary was to provide insight into who they are as individuals and demonstrate that anything is possible if they are just given the tools to succeed.