WVIA documentary on prison rehab program ‘A Call to CARE’ premieres Oct. 14
From a press release:
WVIA will premiere the original documentary film “A Call to CARE” on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. on WVIA-TV.
“A Call to CARE” is a one-hour film produced by WVIA that explores the Court-Assisted Re-Entry Program, an effort to help individuals released from prison with a moderate-to-high risk of recidivism avoid a devastating relapse into criminal behavior. It chronicles the program’s comprehensive rehabilitative process and celebrates its healing resonance in the community.
“CARE Court is about inclusion, it’s about welcoming people back after they’ve made mistakes in their lives and paid for those mistakes,” said Kris Hendrickson, the director of the film.
“There was a lot of courage and a lot of accountability in the way the CARE participants opened up to us for ‘A Call To CARE.’ It restores your faith in people.”
Within the Court-Assisted Re-Entry Program, otherwise known as CARE, compassion replaces punishment as a rehabilitative catalyst for a second chance. The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania adopted the CARE program as a public-private collaboration in 2009.
The CARE team consists of representatives from the Federal Judiciary, the Department of Justice, the Federal Public Defenders Office, and the U.S. Probation Office. Local, regional, and national nonpartisan private business interests partner with the federal staff and can provide participants with access to a range of otherwise unavailable resources. Supervision is based on cognitive behavioral therapy, a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving which can change the patterns of thinking or behavior that lead to conflicts. Successfully completion the program can reduce a participant’s supervised release period by one-third.
“Documentaries like these showcase WVIA’s longstanding commitment to tell the stories of our region and highlight those who are making positive change,” said WVIA Chief Content Officer Ben Payavis.
Encores of the film will air on Friday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 21 at 9 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.
“A Call to CARE” will also be available to watch on-demand at wvia.org and on the PBS and WVIA Apps after the broadcast premiere. Learn more about the film and watch the trailer here.
WVIA in Pittston is the PBS and NPR affiliate serving over 22 counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. For over 50 years, WVIA has been committed to serving the people by offering informational, educational, and entertaining content that enriches and expands viewpoints and serves as a catalyst for positive change. Its mission is to educate, inspire, entertain, and foster citizenship, diverse cultures, and perspectives to nurture community.
WVIA television channels include WVIA-TV, WVIA PBS Kids 24/7, and WVIA Create. WVIA’s radio channels include WVIA Radio, WVIA HD2, and the Chiaroscuro Channel. WVIA’s programs can also be found streaming live and on-demand on wvia.org and the WVIA app.
