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See “Criminal.”
The New Yorker Documentary
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The Harris County Jail might resemble a posh apartment building at first glance, featuring walls with windows overlooking the bayou in downtown Houston. However, the windows are simulated, and the inmates inside—the majority awaiting their day in court—endure dreadful circumstances. “Criminal” incorporates music and words by the Tony Award-winning creators Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald; animation by Thomas Curtis, who experienced eleven years of incarceration; accounts from judicial advocates; and segments of correspondence from inmates to create a bleak portrayal of the truth of the criminal-justice system. It especially emphasizes the function of the monetary bail structure, which compels individuals accused of offenses to await their trials behind bars if they lack the funds—at times spanning months or even years. In recordings of authentic bail proceedings, judges are severe and uncaring, even when defendants inquire about the authorized terminology employed to decide their destiny. Alec Karakatsanis, from the Civil Rights Corps, states, “There exists no innocence presumption in reality, within the American legal structure, if you are impoverished.” Approximately eight thousand people reside in the Harris County Jail, dwelling in terrible environments that some claim equate to inhumane and atypical discipline. Many have not been afforded the opportunity to face judgement.
Sourse: newyorker.com
