Crime & Punishment in America
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Crime and Punishment in America, is a four-part series directed by Lynn Novick, that tells the story of criminal justice in America from the colonial era to today, and explores how for more than 250 years, Americans have wrestled with the problem of crime, the purpose of punishment and the meaning of justice. Executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard. Narrated by Keith David.
To address the problem of crime in their new nation, Americans developed a new system of punishment. Instead of being whipped, shamed, or executed in the public square, which was thought of as ineffective and cruel, people who broke the law would be locked away in prisons and penitentiaries, where they were expected to repent, and return to society reformed.
A sweeping look at the American criminal justice system, from the origins of prisons and policing to our continued fascination with crime, the film traces the contours of our imperfect system and how it influences nearly all parts of our society: the media, economics and politics. Through the voices and testimony of those who have committed crimes, experienced incarceration, enforced the law, or lost loved ones to violence, the series explores the cost of America’s choices and the enduring tension between crime and punishment, vengeance and mercy, justice and redemption.
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CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA is a production of Skiff Mountain Films and WETA Washington, D.C. in association with Florentine Films. Directed by Lynn Novick. Executive Producers Ken Burns and Sam Pollard. Narrated by Keith David. Produced by Lucas B. Frank, Prisca Pointdujour, Vanessa González- Block and Lynn Novick. Edited by Dave Marcus, Ashwin S. Gandbhir, and Jess Halee. Telescript by Lynn Novick. Story by Laurens Grant. Associate Producer Ysabel Turner. Senior Historical Advisor Heather Ann Thompson. Cinematography by Buddy Squires, ASC., Antonio Rossi, and Christopher Loren Ewers. Original Music by Jongnic Bontemps. Additional Original Music by David Cieri. Voices include Betsy Aidem, Bill Camp, Bobby Cannavale, Hugh Dancy, Kiowa Gordon, Michael Greyeyes, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Harry Lennix, Laura Linney, Josh Lucas, Clarence Maclin, Elizabeth Marvel, Yuji Okumoto, David Hyde Pierce, Jon Proudstar, Dave Quay, Matthew Rhys, Jay O. Sanders, Chaske Spencer, Corey Stoll, Michael Stuhlbarg, Juson Williams, BD Wong, and Damian Young. Consulting Producers Vivian Nixon and Rahsaan Thomas. Senior Story Consultant Geoffrey C. Ward. Production Coordinator Banu Newell. Researcher/ Production Associate Ines Frankfurt. Archival Producer Jonah Velasco. Assistant Editors Nicholas Estevez and Cat Harris. Post-Production Supervisors Daniel J. White and Megan Ruffe. Technical Director Dave Mast. Assistant Technical Director Loren Howard. The Executives in Charge for WETA are Kate Kelly and Amy Labenski.
Major funding was provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies, Emerson Collective, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Park Foundation.
Major funding was also provided by the following members of The Better Angels Society: The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; The Just Trust for Education; Allan and Shelley Holt; The Tow Foundation; and the Sozosei Foundation.
Additional support was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, Ford Foundation | JustFilms.
and by The Better Angels Society members: John and Catherine Debs; Timothy Fazio; Lisa Strickler and Mark Gallogly; the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund (Laurie M. Tisch Foundation Inc); Gilchrist and Amy Berg; the Carson Family Charitable Trust; Mauree Jane and Mark W. Perry; the Segal Family Foundation; and Mark A. Tracy.
