We are exceedingly grateful to all those involved: the individuals who speak from experience (Herby Caillot, Thomas Koonce, Michael McAfee, and Karter Reed), Rahsaan Hall, who provides insight and expertise, the producers who crafted the vision (Sean Ellis and Jordan Salvatoriello), and Beryllium Pictures, the creator of the work.
Credits for the End Life Without Parole Video Project
Individuals Who Provided Their Voice
HERBY CAILLOT. Originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Herby Caillot became eligible for parole after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court eliminated this sentence for juvenile offenses.
RAHSAAN HALL. As the President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Rahsaan Hall leads efforts to enable communities to overcome racial and social barriers that cause economic inequities by creating employment and economic development opportunities.
Previously, Rahsaan served as the Director of the Racial Justice Program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, and prior to that Rahsaan was the Deputy Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
THOMAS KOONCE. In 2022, Thomas Koonce’s life sentence was commuted from first- to second-degree murder. He was then granted parole in 2002, after being incarcerated for 30 years.
Prior to his incarceration, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. While incarcerated, he led a program to mentor at risk youth, helped to initiate a restorative justice program, mentored other men who were up for parole, earned a bachelor’s degree and held a steady job.
MICHAEL MCAFEE. Originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Michael McAfee became eligible for parole after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court eliminated this sentence for juvenile offenses.
KARTER KANE REED. Karter Kane Reed is an advocate, activist, mentor, volunteer, and public speaker. He served more than twenty years in prison from the age of 16 until his release at age 37. He went on to earn a 4.0 average and a degree from Mt. Wachusett Community College and has lectured in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts regarding his experience and the need for criminal justice reform. Karter has been a relentless advocate for second chances and has testified on multiple occasions before the Massachusetts Legislature and Department of Correction. He has also spoken at numerous colleges, including Clark University, William James College, and Harvard University. Additionally, he served as a volunteer with the United Way and Roca, and is a former board member and community organizer with EPOCA. He currently lives with his wife in Maine and remains an active proponent of ending Life Without Parole.
Producers, Directors, Cinematography
SEAN ELLIS: PRODUCER. Sean Ellis is an exoneree and Director of the Exoneree Network, a peer-led initiative funded by the New England Innocence Project. At the age of 19, Sean was arrested for the murder of a police officer and was wrongfully convicted at his third trial, only after two juries could not reach a unanimous verdict. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Significant police corruption and misconduct, including witness coercion and evidence tampering, as well as misleading forensic evidence, led to Sean’s wrongful conviction. He was fully exonerated in 2021 after spending nearly 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and his story is now the subject of the Netflix docu-series, Trial 4.
JORDAN SALVATORIELLO: PRODUCER, DIRECTOR. Jordan has worked in communications and public relations for over 20 years. She is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a passion for creating and amplifying social justice stories. Jordan is currently the Director of Development and Communications at the New England Innocence Project, a nonprofit whose mission is to free people who have been wrongfully convicted, support families after long-term incarceration, and eliminate injustice in the criminal legal system. She is proud to support the Campaign to End Life Without Parole and play a part in creating this video series.
BERYLLIUM PICTURES: PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHY, EDITOR. This video series was created with Beryllium Pictures, a full-service video production company based in Boston, Massachusetts. From writing and story development to directing, producing, editing, sound design, and outreach, Beryllium Pictures has passionately cultivated partnerships with clients and organizations across New England to help share their unique stories, and has donated time and talent to social justice causes that impact their community.