Criminal & Law

A harrowing investigation into China's legal system, this documentary takes us inside the world of 'petitioners,' people who come to Beijing from all over the country to seek justice against corrupt local officials and courts, only to find themselves waiting months or years (in some cases more than 10 years) for a hearing.

On a small island in central Russia, inside a former monastery converted into a high security prison, inmate Boris Bezotechestvo is serving a life sentence in solitary confinement. This startling documentary chronicles one day in his life, advancing a complex and troubling assessment of crime and punishment.

An exploration of gender and sexuality in Native American culture, Two Spirits interweaves the story of the life and brutal murder of a Navajo teenager with the largely unknown history of the 'two-spirit' tradition - the acceptance, even celebration, among indigenous cultures of people with both masculine and feminine traits.

An impassioned exploration of the legal and ethical issues surrounding capital punishment, this award-winning documentary looks at the death penalty through the eyes of Pastor Carroll Picket, who served 15 years as a death house chaplain in a notorious Texas penitentiary and presided over 95 executions.

The story of a single mother forced to leave her ailing daughter in Bolivia in order to provide her with a better life is woven into the current debate over amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Winner of multiple awards at Latino film festivals, La Americana puts a human face on this timely and controversial issue.

A look at one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy: family detention. The Least of These brings to light the troubling conditions inside the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a former prison operated by a private corporation that is being used to house immigrant families.

2008 Academy AwardŽ nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject, La Corona (The Crown) explores the lives of female contestants in an unusual beauty pageant at a high security prison in Bogotá, Colombia. The film addresses issues of female identity, sexuality, crime and equality.

The educational version of the 2008 Academy AwardŽ winner for Best Documentary Feature, Taxi to the Dark Side is the definitive investigation into the introduction of torture as an interrogation technique in U.S. facilities and the role played by key figures of the Bush Administration in the process.

On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was inaugurated President of Liberia, the first elected female head of state in Africa. With unprecedented access, Iron Ladies of Liberia follows her historic first year in office.

In 1998, judge Juan Guzman, a longtime Pinochet supporter, was assigned to prosecute the ex-Chilean dictator for human rights crimes. This engrossing documentary follows the twists and turns of this landmark case; one that influenced the application of human rights laws around the world.

Begun nearly two years before his death, this fascinating documentary offers a meticulous account of the life and final days of ex-FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died of radiation poisoning in November 2006. In the process, it provides extraordinary insight into the current political climate in Russia.

An eye-opening look at a pioneering program in which victims of violent crimes meet face-to-face with their perpetrators. This documentary, featured on Oprah, introduces us to a process that could have far-reaching repercussions for the ways we approach crime, criminal justice, and conflict resolution.