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Philly DA: Breaking the Law

Documentaries

Factual: Crime & Justice

DA Larry Krasner's mission to transform Philadelphia's criminal justice system from within

Do you have to destroy the system to get the change you want? With the police facing accusations of corruption and racism, a new district attorney takes on the establishment.

A groundbreaking eight-part series with extraordinary access to the shock election in 2017 and tumultuous first term of Larry Krasner, Philadelphia's controversial and uncompromising new district attorney. 

As the verteran civil rights lawyer turned prosecutor and his new team take charge, the series follows his radical experiment to upend the criminal justice system from within.

Series 1

BBC Four

Yoni Brook

Ted Passon

Nicole Salazar

Philly DA: Breaking the Law: Series 1: You're the Man Now

You're the Man Now

BBC Four - Philly DA: Breaking the Law, Series 1, You're the Man Now

An unorthodox district attorney adopts a new approach to criminal justice in Philadelphia.

In 2017, Philadelphia's incoming district attorney Larry Krasner adopts a new approach to criminal justice in America's most incarcerated city.

It’s autumn 2017, and outsider Larry Krasner is running for district attorney of Philadelphia, the most incarcerated big city in America. Krasner joins a new crop of 'progressive prosecutors' across America, who are paving the way for change. A new policy on cash bail will be the first major announcement of his office, the first of many controversial decisions.  

The story of Krasner's tenure is a captivating and relevant real-life legal drama that poses a crucial and timely question: can America’s broken criminal justice system really be fixed? 
 
In a groundbreaking eight-part series, Storyville charts Krasner's shock election and tumultuous first term. As Larry and a new team take charge, the series follows his radical experiment to upend the criminal justice system from the inside out.
  
In 2017, Philadelphia is the most incarcerated big city in the United States. With Larry as DA, Philadelphia becomes the epicentre of a historic experiment that could shape the future of prosecution in America for decades to come. His long-shot campaign to become district attorney  is run on a bold pledge: to end mass incarceration by changing the culture of the criminal justice system.
 
He upsets the establishment, winning by a landslide. As he takes office, the police, whom he denigrates loudly during his campaign, become his rank-and-file law enforcers and co-workers. Pressure comes from all sides of a system resistant to reform. Krasner’s unapologetic promise to use the power of the DA’s office to enact sweeping change now threatens to alienate those he needs to work alongside.
 
From the eye of this political storm, film-makers Ted Passon, Yoni Brook and Nicole Salazar gain unique access to Krasner’s office, going behind the scenes to observe the daily struggles of Larry and his team as they try to solve the seemingly insurmountable issues within the criminal justice system: police brutality, the opioid crisis, gun violence, racism, and mass incarceration. In doing so this dramatic series provides a fascinating – and even hopeful – insight into contemporary America.

Philly DA: Breaking the Law: Series 1

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A groundbreaking eight-part series with extraordinary access to the shock election in 2017 and tumultuous first term of Larry Krasner, Philadelphia's controversial and uncompromising new district attorney. 

As the veteran civil rights lawyer turned prosecutor and his new team take charge, the series follows his radical experiment to upend the criminal justice system from within.

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Philly DA: Breaking the Law

Series 1

You're the Man Now

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