Philly D.A.

Philly D.A. is a groundbreaking, eight-part documentary series that aired on PBS in 2021. Co-created by Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, and Nicole Salazar, the show offers a captivating, inside look into the office of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner as he navigates the complexities of the city's justice system.

Larry Krasner is a long-time civil rights defense attorney with no previous experience as a public prosecutor who took office in 2018 with a mandate to upend the system. Philly D.A. dives deep into Krasner's bid to transform the city's criminal justice system from within, a venture that brings hope to some and fear to others.

Throughout the series, viewers are given an intimate, behind-the-scenes view of Krasner's efforts to uphold his campaign promises of reducing incarceration rates and righting wrongful convictions. These highly controversial stances ripple across a system stuck in its ways, and Philly D.A. brilliantly captures the pushback, the reforms, the strides, and the setbacks of his mission.

Philly D.A. isn't merely about Krasner and his staff, though. It also provides a comprehensive view of the various components of Philadelphia's justice system, including law enforcement, prosecution, victims' rights advocates, and social justice activists. This allows the series to discuss a broad array of hot-button issues, including police violence, cash bail, and mass incarceration.

Krasner's term in office provides the backbone for the series, but the creators don't use it as a platform to preach. Instead, they present a balanced narrative that explores the victories and shortcomings of Krasner's reforms. The result is a candid, nuanced look at the efforts of a decidedly unorthodox district attorney to transform a deeply entrenched system.

The series is framed as a character study, with Krasner as the central character, but it’s more a portrait of a city and its struggling justice system. It doesn't shy away from tough questions like whether a system as flawed and entrenched as Philadelphia's criminal justice system can be changed from within. Philly D.A. also takes the time to consider and outline the impacts of the policies it examines—on individual lives, on communities, and on the city at large.

In addition to exploring the larger questions about the nature of justice, the series also plunges into the day-to-day of a major city’s District Attorney’s office. It captures the tension of the courtroom, the strategizing of case management, and the intricate workings of the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. It follows Krasner and his team as they grapple with unexpected challenges, handle high-profile cases, and work to bridge the gap between the community and the justice system.

The show also exhibits the fraught and sometimes tenuous relationship between the D.A.’s office and the police. A significant subplot of Philly D.A. is the intense animosity between Krasner—who has spent most of his career suing police officers—and the Philadelphia Police Department.

Philly D.A. brings a human face to policy decisions, litigation and law enforcement action, offering a sensitive, human focus to counterbalance the larger, systemic issues it addresses. It portrays the realities of the individuals tangled within the justice system, whether they are victims, perpetrators, or officers of the law.

The relevance of Philly D.A. extends beyond the city it depicts. It taps into national conversations about criminal justice reform by illustrating the struggles and successes on the ground in one city's battle to change its system. Any viewer interested in these issues or in the broader picture of American criminal justice will find much to admire and contemplate in this series.

Immaculately edited and powerfully assembled, the series is a model of long-form docuseries craft, a rightful heir to a lineage that includes other prestige true-crime series. But unlike many of those shows, Philly D.A. is not about one remarkable case or stunning failure of justice—it's about an entire system, a whole city in the throes of change.

Philly D.A. hums with profound complexity and heart-wrenching humanity, providing a richer, deeper understanding of the impact – and the cost – of attempting to reform the justice system. It's a compelling must-watch for anyone passionate about criminal justice, politics, or city government.