Click the video to watch the film's trailer.
Stella Shortino '24, a communications graduate, was the on-camera host of the documentary and was closely involved in its production.
“Criminal justice has always been an interest of mine, and I took some criminal and social justice courses during my time at Marist,” said Stella. “Studying law later in life is a real possibility for me, so this project was the perfect convergence of two of my interests.”
Production for the project began in 2019 and was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, so alumni from years past also had a significant role.
Zach Gawron '20, who now works as a video production specialist in Washington, D.C., said the project gave him a unique chance to learn about a subject he would not otherwise have known much about.
“It was a great opportunity to get real world experience working on a production in the field, while simultaneously learning about the criminal justice system,” Zach said. “The topic of diversion courts was new to me, so I truly was getting an education in two things at once.”
“Diversion courts are not traditional courts,” said Judge Hirsch, “By providing treatment instead of incarceration, we give our participants the tools to lead productive, law-abiding lives.”
She added that the film provides a chance to address misconceptions about the criminal justice system, as well as an important learning opportunity.
“By educating college students about these courts, we are expanding their awareness and getting the message out that treatment courts truly save lives,” she said.
Students watch the documentary at the screening in the Dyson Center. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.
For Stella, the project went beyond merging her interests, helping her refine her media skills with hands-on, real-world experience.
“Being the on-camera host taught me a lot about myself,” she said. “I was able to explore strategies for line memorization and learn to execute them with confidence and precision in front of the camera. I also recorded all the voiceovers for the documentary and worked in post production.”
Dr. Raines said that following the successful courthouse screenings, future plans for the film include submitting it to various festivals over the course of the next year.
About the transformative experience, Stella said: "Working on this project was one of the highlights of my Marist career."
