HBO documentary shines light on Alabama prison system: premieres Oct. 11

HBO Max is officially changing back to HBO Max this summer. It’s like hitting the refresh button on your favorite streaming service. The rebrand is expected to bring some exciting changes, so get ready to experience the new and improved HBO Max.

A gripping new HBO documentary is set to air, giving viewers an inside look at Alabama’s controversial prison system. “The Alabama Solution,” directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, doesn’t pull any punches. It delves into the issues of violence, forced labor, and abuse that have long plagued Alabama’s prisons. The film is the result of a six-year investigation and features raw footage captured by incarcerated individuals using cellphones.

The documentary started in 2019 when the filmmakers visited a prison to film a religious meeting. What they discovered behind the scenes was shocking. Inmates began sharing stories of what was really happening within the walls of the prison. They revealed tales of brutality, deaths, and inhumane living conditions that raised serious concerns.

One of the most notable stories in the documentary revolves around Steven Davis, whose tragic death while in custody sparked public outcry. State officials claimed it was self-defense, but evidence from fellow inmates and the documentary suggests otherwise. Davis was taken off life support in 2019 after sustaining critical injuries in an altercation with corrections officers at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility.

The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is set to air on HBO on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. You can also catch it streaming on HBO Max for an eye-opening look at the realities of Alabama’s prison system.