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“This brings back some memories,” jokes Darren McGarvey as he climbs into the back of a police car. However, this time he is doing so voluntarily, unlike in the past. This humorous moment contrasts with the serious tone of McGarvey’s documentary, The State We’re In, where he addresses two key issues in the UK today: how did we end up here and what can be done about it? The series is divided into three episodes, with each focusing on a different aspect: education, healthcare, and, in this episode, the justice system.

McGarvey grew up in a low-income housing community in Scotland and has always had a strong interest in the relationship between power and poverty. While many people discuss these issues, he consistently brings up the lack of opportunities for working-class individuals to have a prominent voice on matters that directly relate to their own experiences. While documentaries like Ambulance and 24 Hours in Police Custody offer a glimpse into the state of the nation, they often lack a cohesive narrative. In contrast, The State We’re In provides a passionate argument and serves as an important check-in on society. It is refreshing to see these issues through the perspective of someone who is not merely an bystander, but is instead personally impacted by them.

The three subjects at hand carry significant importance, but the concept of justice is especially contentious. McGarvey addresses this by taking a comprehensive approach, covering all angles. He sets the stage by highlighting the declining public trust in law enforcement and the consistently high incarceration rates in Europe, before embarking on a journey through the entire system. His encounter with Chloe, a new police officer in Tunbridge Wells, serves as a starting point to explore her motivation for joining the force, being in the passenger seat mentioned earlier. The initial casual conversation turns into a thought-provoking and revealing exchange, as is the case with every person that McGarvey meets.

In a poignant moment in Liverpool, he meets with Leanne White, the mother of Ava White, the 12-year-old girl who was killed by a 14-year-old boy using a knife in 2021. Here, the concept of justice becomes less abstract and more viscerally disturbing. White’s brave willingness to share her traumatic ordeal and her beliefs about justice challenge McGarvey’s initial stance. While speaking with individuals on the street to gather their thoughts on prison, he does not encounter the polarizing, extreme viewpoints often portrayed by conservative media. Rather, he finds a more balanced range of perspectives influenced by individuals’ life experiences.

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For such a dense programme, it flies by – testament to McGarvey’s lightness of touch. He visits a volunteer-run boxing gym called Weapons Down Gloves Up, which offers accessible physical training to young adults. He meets a charity offering legal advice over the phone, in the absence of legal aid. He meets a barrister who explains, in fairly clear terms, why the profession went on strike; and he meets a man who studied law while in prison for the robbery of a post office, pursuing a legal career after his release.

McGarvey observes two correctional facilities, one in Glasgow and one in Norway, to illustrate the starkly contrasting approaches to justice. The Norwegian model is widely regarded for its compassionate and efficient methods, standing in stark contrast to the understaffed and inadequate institutions in the UK. As with other countries, this process involves engaging with the individuals directly impacted by the system – the staff and inmates – as well as sparking conversations with viewers about the purpose of incarceration. Should it be solely focused on punishment and retribution? How do we strike a balance, and what criteria do we use to assess it? Is it more beneficial to strive for the reintegration of offenders into society or, as one person in the community suggested, to simply increase the number of prisons?

McGarvey openly expresses his viewpoint, but he also recognizes the significant cultural changes that would have to occur in order for things to be different. As a final challenge, he suggests going to observe a court session and paying attention to the accents of those present. Who is on trial and who is determining their future? It is high time that we begin to hear diverse perspectives from individuals of all backgrounds engaging in crucial discussions about our society.

Source: theguardian.com