JUST US
JUST US is a documentary that takes a deeper look at one of the biggest problems plaguing the justice system - the epidemic of generational incarceration.
Set in the Mission area of San Francisco, the film introduces criminal and juvenile justice advocate, Joanna Hernandez. A former teenage mother who spent many years in and out of jail, Hernandez co-founded the community group "Young Queens On The Rise" and other organizations with the goal of helping at-risk youth avoid her mistakes. After saving the lives of many in her community and at the height of her career Joanna’s world is rocked when her own son is arrested for a serious crime. JUST US follows Hernandez to various court hearings, jail visits and town hall meetings. Although Hernandez is used to advocating for her clients, she has difficulty dealing with the magnitude of what could happen to the person closest to her in the world, her son. As she navigates the film she wonders if her advocacy work was done in vain.