A group of San Francisco college students and jail inmates presented a performance art show exploring mass incarceration and restorative justice issues.
Dance, music, spoken words, and an original score performed and composed by Jeffery Atkins, a local musician and composer, were the medium used to deliver their restorative message.
The University of San Francisco students, sheriff’s employees, contractors, and inmates transformed pod 7B into a theater for the November 2014 show, called Through These Walls, according to the Sheriff’s Newsletter.
A group of 25 USF students entered the county jail to watch the show.
“Idle time does not contribute to successful reentry. Meaningful, engaging programming is key to assisting those in custody transition to the life on the outside,” said Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi in his December 2014 newsletter.
Inmates did arranged movements to live flugelhorn music in the exercise area decorated with props.
“It takes one person to truly change, and then they can influence change in another person, and we’ve seen that here today,” said sheriff Capt. Ideta. “Not just the inmates, but the students all expressed how this has changed them. I am always amazed by the talent we have here. These guys are breaking down stereotypes one at a time, and from here, who knows?”