Plot Synopsis

AMERICAN JUSTICE is a three-part documentary series that explores the United States justice system, using the courthouses, jails and police departments of America's murder capital: Jacksonville, Florida. Across town, detectives are called to the scene of a double homicide in a trailer park. An uncle and niece have been found strangled in their home. As detectives hunt down their main suspect, the lead prosecutor Janeen Kirch has to decide if the crime is severe enough to deserve the ultimate punishment of death. In the courts, Trey Wright is being prosecuted for the murder of his cousin -- even though he was killed by someone else. The prosecution's case is that Trey was committing a robbery when his cousin was killed, so he must pay the price for his death. But Trey has his own version of events - when he takes to the stand, who will the jury believe? Controversial state attorney Angela Corey has gained a reputation as one of the harshest prosecutors in America. As she is campaigning for re-election, protests against the death penalty hit the streets. Will the people of Jacksonville decide they want something different from their justice system? Arriving at the scene of a mass shooting in one the city's most dangerous apartment complexes -- Eureka Gardens -- homicide detectives find three gunmen have fired more than fifty rounds at a group of ten people, including a baby, leaving one woman in a critical condition. Despite numerous witnesses, nobody will talk to the police for fear of retribution. Filled with frustration but determined to catch the triggermen, detectives knock on doors in the sweltering heat hoping somebody breaks. This tension is mirrored in the courtroom at the trial of Lenard Anderson, who is accused of shooting another black man in a strip club. Prosecutor Alan Mizrahi battles with the attitude that 'snitches get stitches' and nobody talks to the police. Despite there being more than 300 possible witnesses, it has taken over three years to persuade anyone to testify in court. Will jurors believe the testimony of the victim's friends despite their criminal records? Then relations between the black community and law enforcement take a turn for the worse when Vernell Bing, a 22-year-old black man, is fatally shot by a police officer. Fleeing from the scene of a crime, Vernell crashes head on into the officer's car during a high-speed chase and is shot in the head. Despite the sheriff's office promising a thorough investigation, Jacksonville's streets start to fill with protesters. On Friday, October 20, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT, National Geographic Channel aired the U.S. premiere of AMERICAN JUSTICE.