Educational Media Reviews Online

Prison Lullabies follows the lives of four women: Monique, Anne Marie, Amy, and Joann, who are all serving time for drug-related offenses, each of them pregnant at the time of arrest. They are all enrolled in an unusual program offered by the Taconic Correctional Facility in New York State. It affords them the chance to stay with their babies for an eighteen month period while they serve their respective sentences, which is where the documentary begins. Although they have the luxury of being with their infants, while in the program, the women undergo therapy, drug counseling, and various classes. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that the truly hard part commences once the four have been paroled and are back on the outside.

Despite the best intentions, and in some cases, fairly strong support systems, the process of readjustment and rehabilitation proves to be very difficult indeed. The combination of addiction, abusive backgrounds, and financial woes are just a few of the daily obstacles they face. Others have particular struggles. Joann, for instance, has signed custody of her children over to a family friend - a woman who encourages them to distance themselves from Joann. Anne Marie has chosen to move in with her still drug-addicted boyfriend. Monique has a hard time keeping a job, and Amy cannot seem to function while out of prison.

At times disturbing, the documentary is nonetheless engrossing and thought-provoking. Title cards punctuate the film throughout, advancing the narrative, and dispassionately reporting on what has happened to each woman. The production values are strong. Nothing detracts from the meat of the documentary, which raises any number of questions about recidivism, rehabilitation, abuse, and the underbelly of American society. Overall, this is highly recommended and would be of use in collections supporting criminal justice, social work, and women’s studies.