Binge-worthy shows for the self-quarantined: Police documentaries
Documentaries explore as many topics as fictional shows do. Earlier we looked at fictional programs based on law enforcement, which most of the time leaves you trusting and admiring the “boys in blue.” Nonfiction programs about law enforcement can paint a different picture and can make you question certain situations.
While these documentary picks do not represent all law enforcement officers, they do have a way of sparking conversation. Let’s all do our best to learn from each situation and work to do better in the future.
Here are some films and streaming series that show the various shades of blue.
‘Making a Murderer’
What it’s about: Filmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.
Why you should watch: Steve Avery is innocent, right? Well, that is for you to decide. This is a very in-depth series that goes over every detail to try and discover the truth. The whole thing plays out like a good mystery series, but it’s real life so it’s better and maybe a bit more horrifying. What I enjoyed about this series is how the evidence and timeline of events is easy to follow. This was also one of Netflix’s most talked about docu-series until “Tiger King” landed, so go watch.
Where to find it: Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix.
‘13th’
What it’s about: An in-depth look at the 13th amendment and how it’s related to the prison system in the United States and creating racial inequality.
Why you should watch: If you’re struggling to understand root of the Black Lives Matter movement, “13th” can help. This film educates us about a side of this country’s history that some people are not aware of. The awful subject matter is tackled by the amazing director Ava DuVernay, who also directed the films “Selma” and “A Wrinkle In Time.”
Where to find it: Available on Netflix.
‘The Thin Blue Line’
What it’s about: A film that successfully argued that a man was wrongly convicted for murder by a corrupt justice system in Dallas County, Texas.
Why you should watch: What’s unique about this film is that it depicts almost everyone’s version of the events with a “dramatized sequence.” In everyone’s telling the details change slightly — or drastically — depending on the storyteller. By the end of the film we finally land on the what really happened. This must be what a police interrogation is like — listening to everyone’s story to try and find the truth.
Where to find it: Available on CBS All Access.
‘Crime + Punishment’
What it’s about: A group of brave NYPD officers risk it all to expose the truth about illegal quota practices in police departments.
Why you should watch: Have you’ve ever joked that a speeding ticket you received was just so an officer could meet his or her quota? Well, it might not be a joke. The cinematography rivals that of fictional films. Though it is visually appealing, the subject matter is very unsettling.
Where to find it: Available on Hulu.
‘Amanda Knox’
What it’s about: American exchange student Amanda Knox is convicted and eventually acquitted for the 2007 death of another student in Italy.
Why you should watch: This film was kind of like a horror story. You decide to study abroad, fall in love and end up in jail for a crime you didn’t commit. I had heard some of the Amanda Knox story when it happened, but to know the whole story was worth the watch.
Where to find it: Available on Netflix.
‘Peace Officer’
What it’s about: “Peace Officer” is a documentary about the increasingly militarized state of American police as told through the story of “Dub” Lawrence, a former sheriff who established and trained his rural state’s first SWAT team only to see that same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff 30 years later. The film also tackles larger questions about the changing face of peace officers nationwide.
Why you should watch: Part justice system gone wrong, part real life Frankenstein’s Monster. Peace Officer shows both sides of the story, but ultimately you are left wondering why the police need such powerful “toys.”
Where to find it: Available on Amazon Prime.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Binge-worthy shows for the self-quarantined: Police documentaries."