Prison Terminal, the Oscar-nominated documentary, explores the end of life of an incarcerated man cared for by fellow incarcerated men.
What is it like to die in prison? With an aging population within and outside prisons, more attention is paid to end-of-life care. While hospices and families focus on comfort care, dignity, and legacy, these are not always available for incarcerated people.
The setting for this gathering is particularly meaningful because Congressional Cemetery and the DC Jail share a wall, reminding us that issues of mortality and humanity exist side by side.
This free screening of Prison Terminal, the Oscar-nominated documentary short directed by Edgar Barens, explores the end of life faced by individuals whose decisions and activities are determined by prison authorities. The filmmaker of Prison Terminal spent six months with incarcerated men who were aging and dying, prison staff, and incarcerated peer caregivers. The documentary focuses on one incarcerated man, Jack Hall, a U.S. war veteran convicted of murder, and the incarcerated men who cared for him as he declined and died.
The film’s director, Edgar Barens, and representatives of the Humane Prison Hospice Project, will join us for a panel discussion following the screening, facilitated by DC Death Collective members.
Come view the film and join us to discuss the growth of programs in U.S. prisons that expand dignified, compassionate care for incarcerated people as they age and die. We hope to encourage community awareness and action around these topics.
“The commitment of the inmate hospice volunteers – and the competence and reverence with which they provide care – shows that dying people’s comfort and dignity can be preserved even in the least desirable situations. Our society could learn a lot from the example they set. A triumph of documentary filmmaking!” Ira Byock, MD, palliative care physician and author of Dying Well and The Best Care Possible
Seats are limited in our chapel building: free pre-registration is required.
Register Here
Partners:
Reach the organizers: thedcdeathcollective@gmail.com
