Crime and Punishment in America
Community Engagement Toolkit
Directed by Lynn Novick and executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, this four-part, eight-hour series tells the story of criminal justice in America from the colonial era to today, and explores how Americans have wrestled with the problem of crime, the purpose of punishment and the meaning of justice.
This community engagement toolkit for Crime and Punishment in America provides resources for hosting your own activities and events. It invites participants to explore complex questions about the meaning of justice, the purpose of punishment, and the causes of crime—from America’s history through today. View the trailer.
Film Excerpt Screener
The Crime and Punishment in America screening reel provides a general overview of the entire film and is designed to help audiences better understand, reflect on, and engage with the core themes of incarceration, justice, policing, law and legal systems, healing and restoration, and victims and survivors presented in the documentary.
Documents
Press Release – CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA
Graphics
PBS CAP SOCIAL POST 1080×1920
PBS CAP SOCIAL POST 1080×1350
PBS CAP SOCIAL POST 1080×1080
Event Participation Survey
If you are hosting a screening event, please consider sharing this Event Participation Survey with your audience. This survey will help us improve development of future engagement programming. Thank you!
Production Credit
Crime and Punishment in America is a production of Skiff Mountain Films and WETA Washington, D.C. in association with Florentine Films. Directed by Lynn Novick. Produced by Lucas B. Frank, Prisca Pointdujour, Vanessa González- Block and Lynn Novick. Edited by Dave Marcus, Ashwin S. Gandbhir, and Jess Halee. Telescript by Lynn Novick. Story by Laurens Grant. Associate Producer Ysabel Turner. Senior Historical Advisor Heather Ann Thompson. Cinematography by Buddy Squires, ASC., Antonio Rossi, and Christopher Loren Ewers. Original Music by Jongnic Bontemps. Additional Original Music by David Cieri. Narrated by Keith David. Voices include Betsy Aidem, Bill Camp, Bobby Cannavale, Hugh Dancy, Kiowa Gordon, Michael Greyeyes, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Harry Lennix, Laura Linney, Josh Lucas, Clarence Maclin, Elizabeth Marvel, Yuji Okumoto, David Hyde Pierce, Jon Proudstar, Dave Quay, Matthew Rhys, Jay O. Sanders, Chaske Spencer, Corey Stoll, Michael Stuhlbarg, Juson Williams, BD Wong, and Damian Young. Consulting Producers Vivian Nixon and Rahsaan Thomas. Senior Story Consultant Geoffrey C. Ward. Production Coordinator Banu Newell. Researcher/Production Associate Ines Frankfurt. Archival Producer Jonah Velasco. Assistant Editors Nicholas Estevez and Cat Harris. Post-Production Supervisors Daniel J. White and Megan Ruffe. Technical Director Dave Mast. Assistant Technical Director Loren Howard. The Executives in Charge for WETA are Kate Kelly and Amy Labenski. Executive Producers Ken Burns and Sam Pollard.
Funding Credit
Major funding was provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies, Emerson Collective, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Park Foundation. Major funding was also provided by the following members of The Better Angels Society: The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; The Just Trust for Education; Allan and Shelley Holt; The Tow Foundation; and the Sozosei Foundation. Additional support was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, Ford Foundation | JustFilms, and by The Better Angels Society members: John and Catherine Debs; Timothy Fazio; Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly; the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund (Laurie M. Tisch Foundation Inc); Gilchrist and Amy Berg; the Carson Family Charitable Trust; Mauree Jane and Mark W. Perry; the Segal Family Foundation; and Mark A. Tracy.
