5 Top Movies About the American Criminal Justice System

by Kevin Gardner

Everyone loves a gripping, edge-of-your-seat crime movie. Whether it's fiction or a documentary, you get wrapped up in the story along with the shock and awe of it all. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have entire genres about this topic with a revolving door of new releases, and there's something for everyone.

The Films

You'll find niche topics as specific as court reporters Seattle and racial injustice in the South. See some of your favorite crime books played out in live-action or jump onboard the crime documentary trend. If you are interested in learning more about the criminal justice system or just want to see a good film, here's a list of five of the top movies about the American criminal justice system. 

A Time to Kill

A Time to Kill is a courtroom drama set in Canton, Mississippi. It was based on the 1989 John Grisham novel by the same name and tells the story of a man named Carl Lee Hailey, who is on trial for murdering the two men that assaulted and tried to kill his young daughter. Most of the story is told from the perspective of a young lawyer, Jake Brigance, who decides to defend Hailey despite his lack of experience and funding. Ultimately, Hailey is acquitted of the charges, and Brigance has his first big win. It's a riveting tale of race and justice, and it tugs at the heartstrings.

Just Mercy

This is a powerful movie based on the 2015 memoir by Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who often represents wrongly accused clients. In this story, you follow Walter McMillian, a black man in rural Alabama that was accused of a murder that he didn't commit. The courthouse made famous in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird makes an ironic appearance. The film has an all-star cast and speaks profoundly about human rights issues within the criminal justice system, and it has been represented as a wake-up call for America.

The Penalty

The Penalty is a documentary about one of the most controversial topics in the criminal justice system: the death penalty. A British filmmaking team takes you inside the home of a murder victim's family. It provides emotional access to the heavy debate about whether or not the murderer should be subjected to capital punishment. You'll hear the story of a former death row inmate who was exonerated and given his freedom; you'll see the process of a defense lawyer, who is dealing with the struggles of trying to prove his client's innocence. It's a well-rounded view of a highly emotional process in the justice system. 

It's a Hard Truth, Ain't It

It's a Hard Truth, Ain't It is a hard-hitting documentary on HBO with a unique twist. Director Madeleine Sackler enlisted the help of 13 men incarcerated at the Pendleton Correctional Facility in Indiana. The men talk about their pasts, and viewers watch the process as they debate about how they want to tell their stories. The result is a devastating revelation of the truth about 13 very complex lives in the prison side of the justice system.

The Mustang

The Mustang is the fictional story of a prison inmate getting his first taste of freedom in a very long time while out on work. Roman Coleman leaves solitary confinement and starts working as a horse stable janitor. He forms a bond with a broken mustang and works his way up to a trainer position. The audience will pick up on parallels between the caged animal and caged inmate without venturing too far into the sentimental. The story is loosely inspired by a real-life horse training program in Nevada.

Conclusion 

If you enjoy any of the films listed in this article, you'll be happy to know that it isn't comprehensive. Netflix offers many award-winning documentary series on sensational true crime cases. Don't miss the wildly popular series Making a Murderer and The Keepers. And keep your eyes peeled for new releases; they appear almost monthly.