John Caputo, tossed into prison as a teen

for stealing a car, quickly becomes a feared

scrapper spending years in the hole. Ending

up in Graterford, PA’s largest maximum-security facility, John transforms himself into an award-winning artist and talented barber, garnering the respect of inmates. But after 11 years, he has to control his violent patterns and face another fight – the fear of being free.

John’s parents met and married

in Vietnam during the War. His father stayed with the military for 30 years – until he received death threats.

Filmed over seven years in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

John purchased his barbershop in 2004.

Roger (right) was one of John’s teachers at Graterford’s barber school, and was hired by John in 2004. John G. (left) also

learned to cut hair in the penal system and was hired in 2009;

he now owns his own barbershop.