How did America develop its own conception of criminal justice? That’s the question at the heart of a new, four part documentary series produced by Ken Burns.
The film traces ideas around punishment and penitence from the colonial period up until the modern day. Philadelphia is featured early on in the series as it explores the influence of reformers like founding father Benjamin Rush and the origins of the world’s first penitentiary.
It looks at the meaning of dignity, atonement, vengeance, and the social contract through the lens of all those involved in the justice system: victims of crimes, formerly incarcerated people, corrections officers, legal experts, and public intellectuals.
The director, acclaimed filmmaker Lynn Novick, joins us to talk about the film and Philadelphia’s role in it. The first installment of “Crime and Punishment in America” airs Monday, November 16th on WHYY-TV 12.
Guest:
Lynn Novickdocumentary filmmaker and the director of “Crime and Punishment in America.”
Source: whyy.org
