The Land of the Free punishes or imprisons more of its citizens than any other nation. This collection of testimonials from criminal offenders, family members, and experts on America’s criminal justice system puts a human face on the millions of Americans subjugated by the US Government’s 40 year, one trillion dollar social catastrophe: The War on Drugs; a failed policy underscored by fear, politics, racial prejudice and intolerance in a public atmosphere of out of sight, out of mind.
The United States has only 5% of the world’s population, yet a full 25% of the world’s prisoners. At 2.5 million, the US has more prisoners than even China does with five times the population of the United States. 8 million Americans (1 in every 31) languish under some form of state monitoring known as correctional supervision. On top of that, the security and livelihood of over 13 million more has been forever altered by a felony conviction.
The American use of punishment is so pervasive, and so disproportionate, that even the conservative magazine The Economist declared in 2010, never in the civilized world have so many been locked up for so little.
The project will unfold over a two year period, beginning with the release of this feature-length documentary and then continuing on with the release of short films and complete interviews from each of the 100 participants in the project, meant to represent the 1 in 100 Americans that are currently sitting behind bars.
8.87
Rating: 8.87/10 based on 31 votes cast.
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A great documentary. The only real flaw is the belief that anything will change regarding the war on drugs.(especially in the U.S) People need to ask themselves why alcohol is legal, when marijuana isn’t. The answer is simple. intelligence and alcohol do not go hand in hand. The dumbing down of the American population is what allows Bush, Cheney, etc the ability to galvanize the American public into killing others in far away lands for corporate interests as being acceptable as defense of their nation.
The DEA raiding a store that sells unpasturized milk(weapons drawn) is indistinguishable from any other raid that they deem acceptable. The awful truth is people live in fear from persecution of the insane, yet somehow believe that democracy actually exists.(which makes them insane as well) Drugs that initiate profound thinking are the greatest threat to the power structure of the global economic pyramid. I for one am happy to serve, but I make a terrible slave, which is why I would never have anymore children, which only empowers the very evil that everyone fears!
When it comes to population count in any aspect, it is extremely difficult to beat China. US actually managed to beak China on prison population??? Is this a joke?
Old news! Why doesn’t the American President take advice from the Canadian Prime Minister……American laws are so whacked ! It makes the country look like a bunch of idiots!
That’s because they are
very informative, but It was a bit long.
Your attention span will improve if you put down your bong.
Amazing documentary, the drug laws really need to change. Especially considering the fact that the United States influenced the UN’s Single Policy on narcotics that influenced the rest of the world. Moreover, unfortunately the Netherlands has recently upheld a judgement in Maastricht allowing a ban on sales to tourists. This will extend to Amsterdam and be implemented n 2012. The Dutch have always been a symbol of freedom when it came to marijuana use although they only decriminalized it but now ill-informed Governments have blamed their drug problems on the Dutch Policy. I wish we would follow logic and actual studies done by MD’s, pharmacologists and toxicologists as well as criminal justice and law researchers rather than basing it solely on political association.
Amazing documentary, the drug laws really need to change. Especially considering the fact that the United States influenced the UN’s Single Policy on narcotics that influenced the rest of the world. Moreover, unfortunately the Netherlands has recently upheld a judgement in Maastricht allowing a ban on sales to tourists. This will extend to Amsterdam and be implemented n 2012. The Dutch have always been a symbol of freedom when it came to marijuana use although they only decriminalized it but now ill-informed Governments have blamed their drug problems on the Dutch Policy. I wish we would follow logic and actual studies done by MD’s, pharmacologists and toxicologists as well as criminal justice and law researchers rather than basing it solely on political association.
Amazing documentary, the drug laws really need to change. Especially considering the fact that the United States influenced the UN’s Single Policy on narcotics that influenced the rest of the world. Moreover, unfortunately the Netherlands has recently upheld a judgement in Maastricht allowing a ban on sales to tourists. This will extend to Amsterdam and be implemented n 2012. The Dutch have always been a symbol of freedom when it came to marijuana use although they only decriminalized it but now ill-informed Governments have blamed their drug problems on the Dutch Policy. I wish we would follow logic and actual studies done by MD’s, pharmacologists and toxicologists as well as criminal justice and law researchers rather than basing it solely on political association.
I live in Maastricht and bought weed yesterday. The local governments have ultimate rule over drug policy in their region. With what the global commission on drugs said, theyr not going to ban the sale to tourists. Especially since in the small city of Maastricht weed generates a lot of food and drink sales in the area:)
The USA you need to question yourself……….
The USA you need to question yourself……….