Fixing the System - HBO

El Reno Federal Prison, located in the heart of Oklahoma, is the last place you'd expect to find the President of the United States. But in July of 2015, Barack Obama made history by becoming the first sitting president ever to visit a federal prison. He was accompanied by the award-winning investigative filmmakers behind VICE News. Their feature documentary titled Fixing the System chronicles this landmark event while examining the larger landscape of an unjust and badly broken prison system.

America's commitment to mass incarceration began nearly 50 years ago, and was bolstered by tougher penalties for non-violent drug offenses. Excessive mandatory minimum sentences were imposed, which most profoundly affect black and Hispanic communities. The film contends that these laws constitute a modern form of industrialized racism, and that most of these offenders are serving far harsher sentences than their crimes warrant.

Statistically, with an inmate population that continues to rise well over 2 million, the U.S. prison system incarcerates far more of its citizens than any other country. As a result, prisons are badly overcrowded, minority communities are crumbling, and the potential of entire generations is being squandered.

The film profiles a group of inmates who understand these realities all too well. Some turned to using drugs as a means of escape. Others began selling them on the street because of a lack of legitimate economic opportunity. In each instance, these prisoners are enduring punishments that far outweigh their offenses. Even after they are released, the stigma of their past discretions will likely force them back to the confines of a prison cell.

President Obama is shown in conversation with these inmates, and their dialogue illuminates shameful truths about America's legal system. These insights are further echoed by additional interview subjects, including a high profile federal judge, a brave law enforcement whistleblower, and former Attorney General Eric Holder.

Fixing the System dissects this multi-faceted issue from all sides, including the damaging war on drugs, police discrimination and brutality, the lack of rehabilitative services, and the failure of Washington to enact reform in spite of widespread bipartisan support. Meanwhile, as the politicians bicker and bargain in the halls of power, the filmmakers never lose sight of the lives that hang in the balance.

Directed by: Shane Smith

Series Information

Winner of the 2014 Emmy® for Outstanding Informational Series or Special, HBO's VICE returns for its fourth season, with 18 new editions hosted by Shane Smith: co-founder of the taboo-breaking multimedia company VICE.

Editions of VICE generally focus on two 15-minute stories, though "special editions" may encompass a single theme and run longer. As fans of the first three seasons can attest, some of the most compelling, important news stories go unreported by mainstream media outlets -- but not by VICE and its intrepid team of correspondents, who deliver hard-hitting stories from around the world, from the U.S. and Mexico to Jordan, Afghanistan and beyond.

In the 2016 season, VICE investigates a broad range of topics, including a potential cure for blindness, doctor-assisted suicide, industrial meat operations, the ongoing battle for LGBT rights, the global response to the ISIS Paris attacks, and the Syrian refugee crisis.

VICE is executive produced by Bill Maher, Shane Smith, BJ Levin and Eddy Moretti (VICE's chief creative officer), with CNN's Fareed Zakaria serving as consulting producer. In addition to Smith, 2016 correspondents include longtime VICE correspondent Thomas Morton; VICE Media co-founder Suroosh Alvi; filmmaker and producer Vikram Gandhi; conflict-zone journalist, documentary filmmaker and author Ben Anderson; Emmy®-nominated producer and correspondent Gianna Toboni; and correspondent Isobel Yeung.