September 15, 1992 – December 10, 2005 (currently being rerun under the title Notorious on The Biography Channel)
American Justice is an Americancriminal 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
