Broken on All Sides (2012)

Plot

Originally aimed at spotlighting the overcrowding crisis in Philadelphia's jails, the documentary expands its lens to examine mass incarceration nationwide, emphasizing the connections between race, poverty, and the justice system. Drawing on Michelle Alexander's insights from *The New Jim Crow*, it argues that the ongoing war on drugs has led to systemic racial biases, effectively creating a modern-day caste system. By analyzing the 'tough on crime' policies, the film advocates for reform and presents potential solutions to dismantle this cycle of mass incarceration and its profound societal implications.