In Their Hands is a documentary about one man’s fight for freedom that pulls back the curtain on the politics of parole.

We need your help getting this completed film—and the man at the center of it—in front of as many people as possible. Your generous donation will help cover our costs, as Ronnie Carrasquillo and director/producer Dan Protess screen the film in communities across Illinois, raising awareness about the process and politics of parole.

In Their Hands opens on Ronnie Carrasquillo as he appears destined to die in prison. 47 years after he killed a plainclothes police officer, his life is in the hands of a parole board whose decision-making is swayed by shifting political sands and an ever-present police union. As Ronnie’s family and attorneys fight for his freedom, they keep coming back to the same question: “is this any way to decide a man’s fate?” 

After its sold-out premiere on December 12 at the Chicago Cultural Center, the film will air on WTTW on December 27 at 9:00 pm, and stream on wttw.com and the PBS app.