Fireboys is at the heart of the prison reform conversation

In the era of mass incarceration, do programs like the one at Pine Grove represent a shift in the criminal justice paradigm from retribution towards rehabilitation? Or are fire camps manipulating a vulnerable population of laborers in order to address the environmental crises of longer and more destructive fire seasons? And what responsibility does this system have to support formerly incarcerated individuals upon their release? 

Fireboys attempts to offer an accurate view into two people’s experiences, both positive and negative, as they navigate the challenges of coming of age inside the American criminal justice system. 

In the United States, we are witnessing a change in philosophy towards rehabilitation, one that questions the long-held belief that crime can be reduced through longer and harsher sentences. This change is evident in the passage of new laws such as California’s Proposition 57, which prevents youth from being charged as adults for their crimes. These are encouraging trends, but they also point to the need for a greater understanding of how such rehabilitative programs work, as well as a comprehensive study of what makes some programs more effective than others at reducing recidivism.