Dr. Cheryl Swanson, Professor of Criminal Justice with the University of West Florida, attended a Victims’ Rights Week Tribute in Pensacola, Florida and heard Pat Tuthill give the keynote address in 2004. Dr. Swanson has focused on victimolgy and has also worked within the prison system and in restorative justice with inmates. In 2007 Dr. Swanson was contacted by MSNBC regarding her work and a series they planned to do on the subject. MSNBC asked Dr. Swanson’s recommendations for a speaker. Dr. Swanson remembered Pat Tuthill’s presentation and work and suggested to MSNBC Field Producer, Susan Carney, that she contact Tuthill.

The plans for the MSNBC special, “Extended Stay”, were discussed between the three to determine if Tuthill felt comfortable with MSNBC and their portrayal and sensitivity of victims’ issues in the aftermath of violent crime. Filming for the program commenced on June 8, 2008 at Holman Prison in Alabama. Holman is a maximum security prison with inmates who are on death row or are serving life sentences without parole for homicide and sexual assault.

Although this video segment is brief Tuthill talked to the inmates for approximately 3 hours.