Smart Justice Young Lives Interrupted: What's The Game Plan?
This is not just a story about youth crime—it’s a story about what’s possible when we stop asking ‘what’s wrong with them?’ and start asking ‘what happened to them?’
In this episode of Smart Justice, we explore what it means to change the game plan for youth on the edge. We hear powerful testimony from former gang member Antoine Jones, who lost his daughter to gun violence. He shares his journey from the streets to prison, revealing how the absence of family structure drives many young people toward gangs seeking protection and belonging. Now dedicating his life to mentoring troubled youth, Antoine delivers a message of hope.
Former football coach Fitz Hill is trying to tackle a devastating reality: In the United States, homicide is the leading cause of death among black males ages 1 to 44. Hill wants to see black males make it to age 45 and come out on top. His initiative, called 1st and 45, exists to bring awareness to the social and economic factors contributing to the epidemic of black male homicides.
Juvenile prosecutor Casey Beard provides insights into some alarming trends, noting the shift from minor adolescent offenses to weapon-related crimes, which are often amplified by social media. Her dual approach balances accountability with prevention: "We cannot do harm by trying to turn off the faucet, so why not do it as well?"
We also meet Sandy Williams, the director of the North Little Rock Academy. The Academy provides an alternative learning environment, serving students in grades six through twelve, designed to meet the needs of at-risk students who may not thrive in traditional school settings. Drawing from his own childhood in poverty, Williams hopes for year-round schooling and community-based alternatives to suspensions. His perspective challenges our resource allocation: "We are paying more to incarcerate kids than we are to educate those same kids."
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