Ep 3. Close to Home

Close to Home is the third episode of the 28th season of the award-winning documentary series Frontline. It offers an intimate portrayal of the effects of criminal justice reform on one neighborhood in Long Beach, California, where residents are struggling to reconcile their desire for safety with their belief in second chances.

The episode opens with a tragic scene: the shooting of a 27-year-old man outside his grandmother's house in broad daylight. He later dies of his wounds and the shooter is identified as a man who had been recently released from prison under California's new early release program. This incident sets the stage for the exploratory journey of the episode, where it grapples with the complexities of criminal justice reform, particularly as it affects the lives of those living in the neighborhoods directly impacted by it.

The director chooses to center the story on Long Beach, a city where the impact of criminal justice reform is acutely felt. Here, the residents are still grappling with the aftermath of Prop 47, a voter-approved measure that reduced some nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The approach was designed to reduce the state's prison population, but advocates of the reform argue it also mirrors a shift in attitudes about criminal justice: an acknowledgment that punishment and incarceration are not always effective solutions for reducing crime.

The episode offers a range of perspectives on the issue, with views from residents, police officers, city officials, and activists. We get to hear from family members of those affected by the changes brought about by the reforms, like a father whose son was killed by a man who was supposed to have been behind bars. We also hear from a judge who oversees a program that offers people an alternative to incarceration for drug-related offenses, as well as from a neighborhood activist who's fighting to get more resources for the community.

One of the strengths of the episode is its ability to frame the issue in a way that is both nuanced and complex. It highlights the competing interests involved in criminal justice reform, like the need for rehabilitation programs for those coming out of prison, against the desire for public safety and protection for the community. The tension between these two imperatives is palpable throughout the episode, particularly in the scenes where community members debate the merits of different policy options.

Despite the heavy subject matter, the episode manages to eschew bleakness and despair, offering instead a clear-eyed and pragmatic vision for the future. One of the hopeful moments comes towards the end, when the episode introduces the viewer to a group of formerly incarcerated individuals who have turned their lives around and now work with local residents to support young people who are at risk of getting involved with gangs. Their efforts offer a window into the kind of community-based solutions that can lead to meaningful change in the context of criminal justice reform.

Overall, Close to Home is a thought-provoking and informative look at the complicated issue of criminal justice reform and its impact on local communities. It offers a nuanced perspective on a topic that is often reduced to soundbites and polarizing rhetoric in the public discourse, and is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to shine a light on important social issues and inspire change.