archive collection

This archive of 36 interviews and 3 films shares stories from young people, parents, and advocates that we recorded during the research and pre-production phase of the feature film JUVENILE: FIVE STORIES.

We developed this online collection to facilitate access to these short films and interviews in their entirety, so they could become part of the public discourse about youth justice in our country. We hope you take time to watch, listen, and learn from the personal experiences of those who have been directly involved with these systems in various jurisdictions and states.

The audio interviews have been intentionally left un-edited, to create transparency both to the full voice of each speaker and their stories as they spoke them, and also to our questions, which reveal our underlying assumptions and evolving perspectives as interviewers.

We recognize and honor each person who chose to participate. We deeply appreciate the fact that sharing stories of trauma can be traumatizing in itself. Each participant has entrusted their voice to this platform with remarkable bravery, and we give thanks to every one.

WATCH SHORT FILMS

LISTEN TO AUDIO STORIES

This archive was made possible with support from Just City, the Shelby County Public Defenders Office, and the National Juvenile Defender Center.