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American Justice is an American criminal justice television program that aired on the A&E Network, hosted by Bill Kurtis. The show features interesting or notable cases, such as the murder of Selena, Scarsdale Diet doctor murder, the Hillside Stranglers, Matthew Shepard, and the Wells Fargo heist, with the stories told by key players, such as police, lawyers, victims, and the perpetrators themselves. More than 250 episodes were produced, making it the longest-running documentary justice show on cable.
The series' final new episode aired on December 10, 2005. However, old episodes are being rerun on A&E's sister, network, The Biography Channel, under the title Notorious, with no changes to the episodes except for new credit sequences and commercial bumpers. Past episodes are also available on DVD. Past episodes are also currently available on antenna TV's Escape channel.
Examines the highly charged issue of battered women. Do they have the right to respond with violence, and under what circumstances? Will the acquittal of Lorena Bobbitt lead to an "open season" on men? And why are women increasingly involved in drug and gang activity?
5
Cops on Trial
Examines how police are treated as defendants and the types of sentences they face; and reveals research results that show that police and the general public are held to different standards of justice.
6
Attack at Waco
The story of the tragic assault on the Branch Davidian compound in Texas and the subsequent efforts to determine the facts and assign blame
7
Gang Busters
Looks at: the "Secret 6", a group of civic-minded Chicago businessmen who aided in bringing down Al Capone; drug trade in a Boston housing development; and gang violence in the Midwest
From the street-corner hooker to the high-class Hollywood call girl, this episode examines how the sellers of sex are brought to justice.
9
Riot: The Chicago Conspiracy Trial
Examination of the turbulent events behind the 1968 anti-war riots in Chicago which led to the "Conspiracy to Commit Riot" trials of the famed Chicago Seven.
10
Divorce Wars
Examines how divorce has changed from the days when women were considered the legal "property" of their husbands to today's high-stakes divorce contests, typified by the battle between Donald and Ivana Trump.
11
Godfathers vs. The Law
Profiles of top gangsters and the lawmen who have risked their lives to defeat the underworld. (2-hour version)
12
Kidnapped
A look at the cases of biathlete Kari Swenson in Montana and Exxon executive Sidney Reso in New Jersey, and examines just how effective law enforcement authorities are in investigating and negotiating tense kidnap situations.
13
Defending the Mob
A look at the career of Frank Ragano, attorney to Florida mob boss Santo Trafficante, Jr. and corrupt Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa.
14
Witness Protection
Interviews with several gangsters, who reveal what their lives are like after getting plastic surgery, new identities, legitimate jobs, and moving into new neighborhoods.
15
Bad Medicine
Includes a nurse suspected of killing babies in her hospital's pediatric intensive care unit; a doctor charged with nine counts of second degree murder; and the owner of the "Personal Best" plastic surgery centers who was accused of allowing his chauffeur to perform medical duties and was hit with 212 malpractice suits.
41–60[]
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Title
Episode Summary
41
Mob Ladies
Features Virginia Hill, who helped Bugsy Siegel build Las Vegas, , who trafficked in heroin even while working as an FBI informer, and "Mafia Princess" Antoinette Giancana, who professes great love for her father, mob boss Sam Giancana.
Includes the case of a corrupt businessman who had his partner murdered and a millionaire who arranged to have his wife killed to avoid splitting his fortune with her in divorce proceedings.
44
Cruel and Unusual
Includes: Henry Young, who was kept in the "Dark Hole" of Alcatraz; Tommy Ortiz, who was beaten by prison guards wearing lead-filled gloves; and John Evans, whose body was charred in the electric chair.
47
Deadly Force
Features the police bombing of the MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, which killed 11, and the shootings of Randy Weaver's wife and son at Ruby Ridge.
48
The Quiz Show Scandal and Other Frauds
Program examines the game-show scam involving distinguished professor Charles Van Doren.
49
Cop Killers
Includes the murder of TexasState Trooper Bill Davidson by Ronald Ray Howard, who claimed gangster rap music by Tupac Shakur encouraged him to shoot the officer, and the execution of rookie cop Eddie Bryne by members of a drug gang, while he sat in his patrol car guarding the home of a drug witness in Queens, New York.
A look at the mass murder committed by Colin Ferguson on board a New York commuter train in December 1993. Includes Ferguson's bizarre attempts to defend himself at his trial.
59
John Wayne Gacy: Buried Secrets
The bizarre case of the successful businessman and volunteer parade clown who raped and murdered 33 young men and boys after luring them to his home in suburban Chicago.
Examines the spectacular trials of Erik and Lyle Menendez, the brothers accused of murdering their wealthy parents.
63
Mob Hit Men
A look at hitmen and the terror they wrought on the streets of Philadelphia.
64
To Catch a Killer: Homicide Detectives
A look at the men and women who gaze into the depths of evil to solve the mystery of humanity's most heinous crime—murder.
66
Death Row Women
Inside America's prisons for a rare look at mothers and grandmothers awaiting execution on death row
67
Free to Kill: The Polly Klaas Murder
The focus of this episode are the repeat offenders who, like Richard Allen Davis, American justice has failed to rehabilitate. We also examine attempts to protect future victims with new laws and aggressive policing
71
The Amy Fisher Story
The case of Amy Fisher, the 17-year-old who was willing to kill to get the man she wanted.
73
Night Stalker
A look back at the yearlong killing spree of Richard Ramirez in Los Angeles, his capture, and trial.
74
Presumed Guilty
A look at the shocking case of Rolando Cruz and Alex Hernandez, who were sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a young girl, Jeanine Nicarico—a crime they did not commit.
The stories of the most notorious Jewish gangsters in America, including "Dopey Benny" Fein, Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, Dutch Schultz, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel
78
Crime Family
Profile of infamous mob boss Vito Genovese and how he built the most ruthless and powerful crime family in the nation.
81–100[]
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Title
Episode Summary
81
The Scarsdale Diet Doctor Murder
Covers the case of school headmistress Jean Harris, who was accused of murdering her lover, "Scarsdale Diet" author Dr. Herman Tarnower
A look back at the shocking story of how Susan Smith drowned her two sons and then tried to fool the nation into believing that an African-American man had committed the crime
83
The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot
Probes the bizarre case of Wanda Holloway, who would stop at nothing—including murder—to get her daughter on the cheerleading squad.
Chronicles the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Kansas, and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of their two killers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith.
87
The Donnie Brasco Story
The true story of Joe Pistone, the FBI agent who risked his life to infiltrate a ruthless New York Mafia family and gather evidence against crime bosses
88
The Preppie Murder
A probe of the death of young Jennifer Levin, who was killed in New York City's Central Park by Robert Chambers, a handsome prep-school graduate
89
The Hillside Stranglers
An examination of the infamous case of serial killers Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, who murdered 10 young women and girls in Los Angeles in 1977 and 1978
90
The Pizza Connection
Story of how the FBI busted one of the largest drug rings ever. The exploding case led investigators from New York's sidewalk pizzerias to Zurich's financial districts and the highest levels of the Italian government
91
The John Lennon Assassination
A look at the twisted mind of Mark David Chapman, the deranged Beatles fan who grew up worshipping John Lennon, then stalked and murdered him in December 1980.
The shocking story of Clarence Brandley, an innocent man who was convicted of murder and spent seven years on death row before being cleared.
96
False Witness
The strange case of Gary Dotson, who wasn't released from prison even when the woman who accused him of rape admitted that she'd been lying.
97
Marriage & Murder
An examination of three cases where husbands and wives have murdered their spouses. Features Charlene Brundidge, who killed her husband, then later won clemency because she was an abused wife.
99
Hunting Bambi: The Laurie Bembenek Story
The case of beautiful ex-cop Lawrencia "Bambi" Bembenek, who escaped after spending nine years in prison for the murder of her husband's ex-wife.
Elisabeth Anne Broderick murders her ex-husband and his new wife in 1989; after her husband leaves her for a younger woman.
111
A Murder in Greenwich: The Martha Moxley Case
The murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley gains worldwide attention in 1975 as the murder suspect, Michael Skakel, is the nephew of Ethel Skakel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
112
Justice Denied: The Hurricane Carter Story
Boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was wrongfully convicted of triple murder and served 19 years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 1985.
113
Til Death Do Us Part
Barbara Stager is convicted in 1989 of murdering her second husband, Russell Stager, after being acquitted of killing her first husband.
114
Body of Evidence: The Tom Capano Trial
The story of the former Delaware prosecutor, Thomas Capano, who was sentenced to death for the murder of his ex-lover, Anne Marie Fahey.
115
The Perfect Murder: The Shannon Mohr Story
The marriage of David Davis and Shannon Mohr comes to an abrupt end when Shannon is killed in what was believed to have been a horseback-riding accident.
116
Drowning In Lies: The Trial Of Edward Post
After a mistrial and a successful appeal, Edward Post pleads guilty to murdering his wife during his third trial.