27 Years - A Short Documentary about Redemption

As the United States continues to incarcerate more people than any other society in the history of the world, individuals in prison do everything they can to earn freedom.

 27 Years is a short documentary film about Larry Reed as he approaches an upcoming parole hearing. The film was produced, directed and shot by Jake Hochendoner in 2016 during his Creative Workforce Fellowship when he made weekly visits to Grafton Reintegration Center (Grafton Correctional Institute) in Grafton, OH to teach media production courses and produce stories about mass incarceration.

Larry Reed has served 27 years of a life sentence when an upcoming parole hearing thrusts him back to reliving the worst day of his life. Between Larry and his parents, the most important decision of their lives is coming and they feel like they have no control over the outcome. 

27 Years challenges our concept of what it means to be transformed in prison as it asks questions of redemption and the potential for healing after inescapable tragedy. 

The film is currently being submitted to film festivals. For more information please use the contact page.