Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Informant Scandal in the O.C., 'Heaven Knows What' and 'San Andreas'
A major scandal over the apparent misuse of jailhouse informants is unfolding in the Orange County district attorney’s office. What could it mean for dozens of convictions that relied on informant testimony?
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenA major scandal over the apparent misuse of jailhouse informants is unfolding in the Orange County district attorney’s office. What could it mean for dozens of convictions that relied on informant testimony? Also, even when informants are used appropriately, is the practice ethical? Next, we hear from the filmmakers behind the gritty, ripped-from-real-life junkie film Heaven Knows What. And finally, in this week’s Friday film segment our critics weigh in on the new L.A. disaster movie San Andreas.
In this episode
4 storiesO.C. Snitch Scandal
A major scandal is unfolding in the Orange County District Attorney’s office. For decades, prosecutors have apparently been misusing jailhouse informants to win convictions. D.A. officials allegedly planted informants with suspects to get confessions, then withheld information from defense attorneys.
Read the story10 minThe Ethics and Pitfalls of Using Jailhouse Informants
The use of jailhouse informants is legal. So is offering informants plea deals in return for testimony. It’s even legal to pay informants for their testimony. It happens all over the country. But is it ethical?
Read the story8 min'Heaven Knows What'
A tough new cinema-veritéfilm opened this past weekend. Heaven Knows What is about a young heroin addict trying to survive on the streets of New York. The film is fiction, but just barely. It stars a young woman named Arielle Holmes, who was homeless and an addict in real life.
Read the story15 minFriday Film: 'San Andreas' and Hollywood's Love of Destroying Los Angeles
Los Angeles is doomed to be swallowed up by the Pacific. At least, that’s what disaster movies would have you believe. The latest in the genre comes out in theaters this weekend, which is where we start this week’s Friday film roundup. Also, Point Break is getting a remake.
Read the story12 min
