Andrew Jarecki

Well, they've been doing this kind of activism and this kind of sort of outspoken truth-telling for a long time.

And we were an opportunity, I think, for them to get the story to have a bigger platform.

And they really are struggling to try to survive.

And so the idea of getting the word out was important.

Also, they really believe in the power of journalism.

They really believe in the power of the fourth estate.

And so, you know, the audience,

is, for them, the only way out is to have people understand what's happening to them.

Well, the phones were sort of introduced into the Alabama state prison system around 2013.

And the men instantly realized that if they wanted to get the story out, they were going to have to use these phones to do it.

And they were also going to be able to use the phones to communicate with their children and their loved ones.

Oh, no, they are not supposed to have phones in there.

The guards are selling them the phones.

I mean, clearly, you know, I've spoken to guards who said, well, you know, I make like $36,000 a year without the phones, but I make like $70,000 a year with the phones.

So the phones aren't going anywhere.

You know, the Alabama Department of Corrections is the biggest law enforcement agency in the state.

And it's also the biggest drug dealing operation in the state.

Well, it was at Sundance last year.

And then it just came out on HBO in October.

So it's been out in sort of in front of the public.