We’re sponsoring the Arlington premiere of Prison Pups, a film by Arlington resident Alice Dungan Bouvrie, on May 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Regent Theatre. Prison Pups is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of four inmates at New England Correctional Center, a minimum-security facility in Concord, as they raise and train assistance dogs for the NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans) program based in Princeton, Mass.

By taking on the responsibility of caring for a puppy, the inmates develop self-confidence and the capacity for nurturing and affection. This film, produced in cooperation with WGBH, won Best Documentary Award and has been the official selection at several other festivals.

In addition to a Q&A session with Ms. Bouvrie, the event will include an introduction by Kathleen M. Dennehy, the first woman appointed Commissioner of Correction in Massachusetts. Ms. Dennehy, who served from 2004 to 2007, has been called by one politician, “the best corrections official in the country.” Ms. Dennehy is currently a corrections consultant and is enrolled in a doctoral program in social policy at Brandeis University.

Also available for questions at the event will be Superintendent Lynn Bissonnette of MCI-Framingham who appears in Prison Pups and was instrumental in bringing the prison dog program to Massachusetts. Prison Pups is a natural choice for A-DOG to showcase because the film echoes the group’s guiding principle that relationships with dogs and other companion animals have numerous benefits to individuals of all ages, and to the community at large.

Tickets are available in advance for $8 from the Regent Theatre box office at 7 Medford Street in Arlington Center (call 781-646-4849 or visit their website) or at the door May 22. Proceeds will benefit A-DOG and NEADS.