Speakers
Parallel Workshops
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall offers an intimate, rarely seen look inside a U.S. prison hospice where trained incarcerated caregivers provide hands-on end-of-life support to men who are dying behind bars. In this session, filmmaker Edgar Barens, director of the Academy Award nominated documentary and a representative of the Humane Prison Hospice Project, shares what this model makes possible when Departments of Corrections and community partners work side by side.
Designed for correctional healthcare leaders, custody staff, hospice professionals, educators, and advocates, the presentation moves beyond inspiration to practical insight. Participants will learn how collaborative partnerships can help launch and sustain peer-led hospice and palliative care programs inside prisons, while supporting safety, clinical standards, and human dignity.
Drawing from real-world implementation experience, Barens highlights key building blocks for success, including aligning leadership, coordinating policy and security, selecting and training peer caregivers, ensuring appropriate clinical oversight, strengthening continuity of care, and establishing ethical safeguards. The session also addresses common hurdles, from staffing and resource constraints to communication, culture change, and long-term sustainability.
Whether your system is exploring a new hospice initiative or seeking to strengthen an existing program, this presentation offers a clear framework and a powerful case study for how correctional systems can deliver compassionate end-of-life care through structured, values-based collaboration.
