LibGuides: Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice: DVD, Websites, etc.

DVD

The House I Live In by Eugene Jarecki
Call Number: DVD HV5825.H68 2013
Publication Date: 2013
Locked Up in America by Dan Edge Two Frontline episodes on the American penal system. Solitary Nation looks at life in solitary confinement in Maine's maximum security prison. Prison State addresses the problem of mass incarceration in America, focusing on four residents of a Louisville, Kentucky housing project as they cycle in and out of the state's prison system.
Call Number: DVD HV9471 .L93 2014
ISBN: 9781627890632
Publication Date: 2014
When Kids Get Life by Ofra Bikel The United States is one of the only countries in the world that allows children under 18 to be sentenced to life without parole. This program profiles the cases of five juveniles sentenced in Colorado to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It explores whether juveniles should receive sentences that, in effect, end any possibility of life outside of prison.
Call Number: DVD HV9105.C6W474 2007
ISBN: 9780793693627
Publication Date: 2007

Websites

American Prison Writing Archive The American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) developed from a book project that published writing by currently incarcerated Americans. Though the book's submission deadline passed, the "submissions never ceased." Recognizing the importance of giving currently incarcerated people an opportunity to share their stories, the APWA continues to accept and archive essays. Most of these pieces are solicited through prisoner-support newsletters and Prison Legal News, and the archive publishes work from "anyone with first-hand experience inside US carceral institutions," including "prison employees and volunteers, who materially shape the day-to-day conditions in which incarcerated people live, and who are in turn deeply affected by their work." Readers can browse the more than 2,000 essays in the APWA using the search tools in the top-left corner. For example, readers can narrow the collection by state, prison, or language. These essays cover various topics, and the archive team hopes that by sharing the lived stories and experiences of those affected by prison systems, continued study and debate around mass incarceration will be grounded "in the lived experience of those who know prisons best." APWA is a project of Hamilton College and is led by project director Doran Larson.
Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, PA)
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Food systems in correctional settings. A literature review and case study
Idaho Department of Correction
Life Inside What is life really like behind bars? Get an inside look into criminal justice with this weekly literary series from The Marshall Project (a nonprofit journalism platform dedicated to criminal justice), that gathers "first-person essays from those who work or live in the criminal justice system." This resource features short nonfiction essays from various perspectives of stakeholders in the criminal justice system (including those who are currently or were formerly incarcerated, lawyers, police officers, judges, and victims of crime). Pieces cover the complexities of human experience - loss and redemption, a search for meaning, and different definitions of "justice" - and uplift voices that are underrepresented in most storytelling settings. In addition to this "front-line" look at our criminal justice system, The Marshall Project's full site hosts a wealth of data, reports, and interactive resources. Founded in 2014, The Marshall Project is committed to "educat[ing] and enlarg[ing] the audience of people who care about the state of criminal justice" and provides useful insights to journalists and justice stakeholders alike.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
National Institute of Corrections
National Institute of Justice
NORC: Criminal Justice
from U of Chicago
Oxford Transitional Justice Research Seminars Readers interested in understanding the intersection of conflict, colonialism, and criminology around the world may enjoy Oxford Transitional Justice Research Seminars. Housed within the University of Oxford's Centre for Criminology, Oxford Transitional Justice Research (OTJR) brings together "an interdisciplinary network of academics," studying a wide variety of themes relating to transitional justice, or the use of judicial and non-judicial measures to redress legacies of human rights abuses. The OTJR brings users an audio database of recorded seminars presented at the Centre from 2009 to present. The seminars feature global leaders who research various themes of human rights issues and carceral responses. Topics span many subjects and locations, such as internal conflict in Peru, land disputes in Sudan, and victimhood in Ireland. Each recording features a different expert lecturer - for example, the November 2019 seminar on "Documenting Crimes in Syria and Iraq" from Sareta Ashraph, a barrister who focuses on international criminal and humanitarian law. Recordings range in length from about 20 to 50 minutes, on average. Readers can listen to the full collection of OTJR Seminars at the link above.
The Sentencing Project: State-by-State Data The Sentencing Project (featured in the 11-28-2000 and 12-04-2015 Scout Report) has been a staple resource for members of the criminal justice community for over 30 years. Since we last featured the site, the Sentencing Project has continued to add to their resource collections and reports. Highlighted here is the State-by-State Data section, including three subsections that allow users to better understand the concentrated effects of the American justice system at the state level. Under the first tab, State Data Map, is an interactive tool that allows users to scroll over each state and see a detailed breakdown of incarceration rates, racial disparities, juvenile custody rates, disenfranchisement, and expenditures based on that state's prison, probation, and parole populations. Selecting the Detailed State Data tab allows users to compare states against each other or against federal data, including gender, race, and juvenile imprisonment statistics. Finally, clicking the State Rankings tab graphs all 50 states against the United States total, allowing users to see states at the high and low ends of incarceration, racial disparities, juvenile custody, and disenfranchisement rates. In its entirety, the State-by-State Data section uses statistics and data visualization to help users better understand the macro- and micro-level impacts of criminal justice in the United States.
Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics
State of Idaho Judicial Branch: Supreme Court
Uniform Crime Reporting Program (FBI) The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program has been the starting place for law enforcement executives, students of criminal justice, researchers, members of the media, and the public at large seeking information on crime in the nation. The program was conceived in 1929 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to meet the need for reliable uniform crime statistics for the nation. In 1930, the FBI was tasked with collecting, publishing, and archiving those statistics. Today, four annual publications, Crime in the United States, National Incident-Based Reporting System, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, and Hate Crime Statistics are produced from data received from over 18,000 city, university/college, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the program. The crime data are submitted either through a state UCR Program or directly to the FBI’s UCR Program. In addition to these reports, information is available on the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program and the Hate Crime Statistics Program, as well as the traditional Summary Reporting System (SRS) and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Urban Institute: Crime and Justice
Warehoused and Forgotten: Immigrants Trapped in Our Shadow Private Prison System

Streaming Videos

College Behind Bars PBS's "four-part documentary film series," College Behind Bars follows the lives of incarcerated individuals enrolled in the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI). BPI gives individuals an opportunity to earn associate's and bachelor's degrees while they are incarcerated and is known as "one of the most rigorous and effective prison education programs in the United States." The series encapsulates the "transformative power of education," by demonstrating the common struggles that incarcerated students share with traditional students - long hours spent studying, tedious paper re-drafts, and preparation for debate competitions, to name a few. The series also invites viewers to share in intimate stories of loss, pain, and second-chances. The four episodes are available to view at the link above under Watch Now. Educators may also want to check out the For the Classroom section, where they will find a lesson plan on "Education as a Means to Citizenship." This curriculum features five video clips on topics such as "The Politics of Incarceration," Support Materials such as discussion questions and handouts, and standards information. College Behind Bars was directed by Lynn Novick, produced by Sarah Botstein, and executive produced by Ken Burns, all of whom have won awards for their work in the film industry.
Crimes and Punishments: A History This controversial documentary traces the often brutal history of criminal punishment from the medieval era through today. Early lithographs show in shocking detail the excessive punishments applied in premodern times for minor crimes. We see how more humane attitudes toward punishment led to the construction of prisons. Featured in this program is the CCI penitentiary in South Carolina. There, prison officials discuss the difficulties involved in running a large penal institution. Prisoners and corrections officers provide insights into daily life at the prison and talk about the overall failure of current rehabilitation efforts. This is an excellent portrait of criminal punishment as it was, and where it stands today. (30 minutes)
Due Process: Court, Trials, and Sentencing
Expert Evidence Series—Case Studies Series The case studies in this series feature scenarios that demonstrate common mistakes, then provide an opportunity to determine the best way to present expert evidence.
Expert Evidence Series—Interview Videos Series A range of legal and forensic experts share their knowledge and expertise on important and highly relevant topics, including using and preparing expert witnesses; presenting accurate expert evidence; as well as issues on ethics and miscarriages of justice.
Exploring Alternatives To Prison and Probation
Gang Counseling in Prison (2 parts) Gang affiliations inside juvenile facilities is an ongoing challenge for youth and staff inside juvenile detention centers and juvenile prisons
The History of American Criminal Justice This program offers a brief history of U.S. criminal justice. It covers such topics as criminal justice in colonial America, the Quakers’ penitentiary, and the development of criminology. The program explains the organization of the U.S. criminal justice system.
A History of Punishment
The History of World Criminal Justice This program traces the history of world criminal justice from the Code of Hammurabi, through ancient Greece and Rome, to the Middle Ages. It covers such topics as criminal justice in India, China, Japan, and the Middle East; English debtors’ prisons; punishments for colonial witchcraft; the development of criminology; and modern criminal justice systems.
It's More Expensive to Do Nothing: Prison, Recidivism, and Remediation The math, according to many experts, is simple: it costs $75,000 a year to incarcerate a nonviolent offender but only $5,000 to help that individual live productively in freedom. Meanwhile, the number of Americans behind bars has reached an astonishing level with virtually no sign of falling. This film explores the troubling realities that lie behind those statistics—the revolving door of institutionalization, the complexities of reform, and the frequent disregard for programs that can help ex-offenders succeed in society. Featuring interviews with more than 25 experts in the fields of law, policy-making, criminal justice, addiction treatment, and child development, the film also profiles nonviolent offenders who have turned their lives around after completing remediation and literacy programs. Viewers learn about facilities that have proven track records for helping both juvenile and adult offenders find lawful, rewarding paths to the future. (49 minutes)
Jail, the American Way
Justice for All Access to justice: for four billion out of the just over seven billion people on earth this is too expensive, too complicated, blocked by corruption, or simply not available. Lawyers working for the Dutch government devote themselves to the digital innovation of the legal industry. Surprisingly enough, Kenya is a trendsetter in this respect. Under the inspiring guidance of Supreme Court Judge Willy Mutunga, and with the aid of text messaging, smartphones and Twitter, a countrywide network of apps and legal volunteers is built. Injustice is combatted with cell phones instead of law degrees. Kenya is known as a country where corruption is rife; political violence and tribal warfare are the order of the day. There are simply not enough judges and lawyers to turn the many incidents of injustice and violence into cases. But now they have found a way to relieve some of the pressure of work. Supreme Court Judge Willy Mutunga is keen on innovation. He was at the cradle of a system that allows so-called paralegals to be trained throughout the country. They are not proper lawyers but legal volunteers who can offer first aid in conflicts where justice is trampled underfoot. Village chiefs in remote areas and school heads in the slums can do a basic course in legal aid. There are even prisons where the inmates study diligently, mainly for the benefit of their own case of course! Once they have the correct information, spreading it is easy in Kenya. When it comes to cell phone density, Kenya is among the world’s highest scorers. Many legal issues and questions can be dealt with through Twitter or through systems like M-Haki, the mobile justice network. Practically everyone can afford these communication networks, which is perfect in a country where for most people expensive lawsuits are not an option. These networks facilitate justice for all and allow people to combat injustice with cell phones instead of law degrees. With Willy Mutunga (President of the Supreme Court), Sam Muller (Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law), Peter Ouko (prison paralegal), Kituo Cha Sheria (Huis van het Recht) and Ushahidi, the open source software collective.
Liberty and Security in an Age of Terrorism
Life Inside Jail: Hell on Earth Series With full and exclusive access to one of New York’s largest jails, this two-part series reveals the reality of life in the American prison system. In America, before you are convicted of any crime, you are sent to one of the nation’s 3,000 county jails. Conditions are seriously tough – innocent people mix with petty thieves, serial killers and violent gang members while they wait for their cases to go to court. All are locked up together in a melting pot of boredom and frustration. Featuring the stories of Albany County Jail’s inmates, both male and female, as well as the officers charged with keeping order. We follow some cases to court (including a murderer facing life imprisonment) and have behind the scenes action as the case unfolds. The series provides a remarkable personal, emotional and intimate insight into a world behind bars.
Lost in the Mall When Elizabeth Loftus gave evidence for the defence in the trail of George Franklin, it was held by the court that while memories were unreliable and could be altered, they could not be invented. There were no such things as false memories. Loftus set out to demonstrate otherwise. This film documents Loftus' demonstration of false memory and the 'memory war' that followed, a war that not only threatened her professional reputation but also her life.
Moyers & Company: And Justice for Some
Parole: Getting Out and Staying Out Prison life is hard—but for most ex-convicts, life on the outside is tough, too. This video follows paroled prisoners as they re-enter civilian life and face challenges both large and small. Upon release from jail, the lives of these young men are suddenly filled with critical decisions. Some are dreaded, such as the split-second choice of whether or not to engage in violence—the wrong choice will put them back behind bars. Other dilemmas are unexpected, like having to decide what to wear every morning. The program provides an eye-opening look at the typical parolee’s struggle to find work, stay away from drugs and former friends, and maintain a positive attitude about the future. (16 minutes)
Prison Dogs Incarcerated for murder and armed robbery, hardened New York criminals learn to love again by raising puppies behind bars. In this inspirational tale, three selected prisoners battle self-doubt, anger and regret in their attempt to transform dependent pups into service dogs for injured US veterans. Bound together by fate, this uniquely vulnerable trio of puppy, prisoner and veteran come to discover the redemptive power of second chances.
Prison Love Lisa Ling investigates what drives women to seek a romantic companionship with a prison inmate.
Prison State FRONTLINE investigates the impact of mass incarceration in America. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Psychology, Criminality & Incarceration in America
Rikers: An American Jail The United States is facing a crisis of mass incarceration with over 2.2 million people packed into its jails and prisons. To understand the human toll of this crisis, Rikers Island is a good place to start.
Solitary Confinement Inside the walls of the supermax prisons, America's fortresses of punishment, a growing number of inmates are spending 23 hours a day, seven days a week, locked alone inside cells that measure a mere 80 square feet. This edition of Investigative Reports examines the use of solitary confinement in supermax prisons by going inside the grim walls of Arizona State Prison and Pelican Bay State Prison. The question that emerges is clear: does confinement in these circumstances constitute cruel and unusual punishment? Even with the help of psychologists, prison instructors, activists, and mental health experts, the answer remains elusive. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)
Solitary Nation With extraordinary access, award-winning producer and director Dan Edge (Inside Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown, Kill/Capture, The Wounded Platoon) takes you to the epicenter of the raging debate about prison reform. Solitary Nation brings you an up-close, graphic look at a solitary confinement unit in Maine’s maximum security prison.
The System with Joe Berlinger (8 parts) This eight-part series, from award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, explores the underbelly and dark corners of the American justice system. Berlinger investigates controversial cases of wrongful convictions, botched investigations and innocents on death row. Joe Berlinger that explores controversial cases in the criminal justice system. He investigates troubling incidents from the dark corners of the American justice system in which little is as it seems. In this murky world, he digs for truth and tries to answer the question: was justice served? Raising riveting questions about innocence and guilt, there will often be surprises: sometimes the person crying foul is himself lying; sometimes the disgruntled cop is discredited, but then vindicated; and sometimes the system works, and justice is served, Berlinger will show. Focusing on any number of layers within the criminal justice system, each episode will explore controversial case that impact prosecutors, citizens, police officers, and businesses. As we examine each story, we’ll see whether the vaunted system of U.S. justice has triumphed or failed. Raising riveting questions about innocence and guilt, there will often be surprises: sometimes the person crying foul is himself lying; sometimes the disgruntled cop is discredited, but then vindicated; and sometimes the system works, and justice is served, Berlinger will show. Focusing on any number of layers within the criminal justice system, each episode will explore controversial case that impact prosecutors, citizens, police officers, and businesses. As we examine each story, we’ll see whether the vaunted system of U.S. justice has triumphed or failed.
TEDTalks: Laura Rovner—What Happens to People In Solitary Confinement Imagine living with no significant human contact for years, even decades, in a cell the size of a small bathroom. This is the reality for those in long-term solitary confinement, a form of imprisonment regularly imposed in US prisons. In this eye-opening talk, civil rights lawyer Laura Rovner takes us to ADX, the US federal government's only supermax prison, and describes the dehumanizing effects of long-term solitude on the mind, personality and sense of self. What emerges is an urgent case for abolishing solitary confinement -- and evidence for how our tax dollars, public safety and values are implicated in it. "Prisons are administered in our name and on our behalf," she says. "We have an obligation to bear witness."
TEDTalks: Raj Jayadev—Community-Powered Criminal Justice Reform Community organizer Raj Jayadev wants to transform the US court system through "participatory defense" -- a growing movement that empowers families and community members to impact their loved ones' court cases. He shares the remarkable results of their work -- including more than 4,000 years of "time saved" from incarceration -- and shows how this new model could shift the landscape of power in the courts.
Visions of Abolition : From Critical Resistance to a New Way of Life This two-part documentary presents a critical view of the current prison system from an abolitionist perspective. Breaking Down the Prison Industrial Complex, the first part, examines the racial and gendered violence of the prison system through the voices of two groups: women caught in the criminal justice system and leading scholars of prison abolition. Abolition: Past, Present, and Future, the second part, documents the recent history of the prison abolition movement through the organizing efforts of Critical Resistance and explores the meaning of abolitionist politics. Interviews with Melissa Burch, Susan Burton, Angela Davis, Ruth Wilson Gilmore, and Dylan Rodriguez are featured throughout. (93 minutes total)
Where Justice Ends This documentary sits at the intersection of two important and timely topics of social justice: conditions in the US prison system and the injustices that befall transgender people encountering the law. The film explores why so many transgender people encounter the police, how those encounters often lead to discriminatory treatment, and the inhumane conditions that transgender people all too frequently experience. Through interviews with transgender inmates and experts, and narrated by the Tony award winning stage, screen, and TV actor, Brian Stokes Mitchell, the film casts light on one of the most hidden social injustices in the United States.
Why They Kill Why do some men, women, and even children assault, batter, rape, mutilate, and murder? The breakthrough research and singular theory proposed by renowned criminologist, Professor Lonnie Athens, comprehensively explains how violent criminals develop; how violent communities are created and transformed; and how violent acts are committed and can be prevented. Based on the critically acclaimed book by the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Richard Rhodes, this documentary is a startling exploration of the four-step "violentization" process that leads some to attack and murder.

Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice: DVD, Websites, etc.

DVD, Websites, Streaming video

DVD

Websites

Streaming Videos