A Second Look
A Second Look follows Jolene Russ’s crusade to change criminal justice laws in New York and free her husband, Bryon Russ, from what she and her supporters believe is a racist and unjust sentence.
Communities Not Cages
Jolene passionately emphasized that Bryon’s punishment far exceeded his crime and that his 23 years of dedicated rehabilitation were being unjustly ignored.
In collaboration with the advocacy group Communities Not Cages, I began documenting Jolene’s tireless efforts to support the Second Look Act. This proposed legislation offers incarcerated individuals who have served at least half their sentence an opportunity for resentencing, recognizing their progress and rehabilitation.
Through A Second Look, I sought to amplify their story, advocate for justice reform, and ultimately contribute to the fight for Bryon’s release from prison.
“This prison is what separates us, but between me and her, there's nothing but love”
-Bryon Russ
When I first began filming with this couple in 2021, I thought it was a story about an activist group and the fight to pass a law. However, as I spent more time with this dedicated couple, it became clear that this was, at its heart, a love story—one defined by unwavering commitment, resilience, and the deep bond between Jolene and Bryon.
Their journey was not just about justice reform, but also about the enduring power of love, support, and the pursuit of a second chance, both in the legal system and in their shared life together.
Clemency
In New York, clemency is the only way for people in prison to have their sentences reviewed, but with a success rate of just 0.2%, it is rarely a viable option.
While waiting for the Second Look bill to pass, Bryon and Jolene turned to clemency. They partnered with lawyer Steve Ziedman, head of the Clemency Collective at CUNY Law School, to prepare an application for Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, hoping for a chance at justice.
Clemency, along with broader criminal justice reform efforts, remains a highly debated issue in a New York City grappling with rising crime rates.
Homecoming
A year after A Second Look premiered, Bryon was granted clemency by Governor Hochul and released 17 years early.
The Russ family invited me to document this momentous day—his long-awaited return home.
Rehabilitation Through the Arts
Bryon’s release came as a surprise, but just a day later, he was scheduled to perform in Twelve Angry Men at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. After his homecoming, he returned to the prison to give the performance of a lifetime.
The production was part of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), an organization that helps incarcerated individuals build life skills through the arts, emphasizing dignity over punishment. Filming this play led to further collaboration with RTA, eventually inspiring my next film, BLOOM.
This film was produced, directed, and edited by Caroline Coyer as part of her BA Senior thesis for NYU’s Honors Advanced Broadcast Journalism.
Caroline received a DURF research grant of $1,000 for the project, which she presented at the annual CAS Undergraduate Research Conference as a Presidential Honors Scholar.
A Second Look was screened at community events across New York state, including the closing event for the From Love exhibition at the Bethany Arts Community Gallery.
https://bethanyarts.org/calendar/from-love-closing-reception/
Since Bryon’s release, Caroline has continued filming with the Russ family and looks forward to sharing more of their journey in the future.