Opinion: Uncovering the Juvenile Injustice in Rutherford County
In a groundbreaking collaboration, The New York Times and Serial Productions have joined forces with ProPublica and WPLN Nashville Public Radio to produce a new four-part narrative podcast series titled “The Kids of Rutherford County” [1]. This podcast sheds light on the shocking revelation that a Tennessee county had been unlawfully arresting and imprisoning children for over a decade.
Set to be hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody Award-winning reporter for Nashville Public Radio who co-reported the original investigation, “The Kids of Rutherford County” delves into the individuals responsible for this egregious abuse of power and the two juvenile delinquents-turned-lawyers who strive to bring justice to the victims [1]. This series aims to expose how such a travesty was allowed to occur and examines whether those in positions of authority will face any consequences for their actions.
Listeners can subscribe to “The Kids of Rutherford County” on various podcast platforms to stay updated with the release of the episodes [2]. The first two episodes are scheduled to premiere on Thursday, October 26, with parts three and four set to air on subsequent Thursdays.
The podcast explores the juvenile court’s flagrant disregard for confidentiality and privacy, which enabled an illegal and secret world to flourish [1]. The question that arises is what it will take to dismantle this system and whether those responsible for overseeing it will be held accountable.
Serial Productions, known for its highly popular podcasts “Serial” and “S-Town,” has amassed over 743 million total downloads [1]. In July 2020, Serial Productions became a part of The New York Times Co., resulting in the creation of several impactful shows, including “Nice White Parents,” “The Improvement Association,” “The Trojan Horse Affair,” “We Were Three,” “The Coldest Case in Laramie,” and most recently, “The Retrievals” [1]. Each of these series tackles pressing issues and offers unique perspectives on topics ranging from education and election fraud to healthcare and unsolved crimes.
“The Kids of Rutherford County” is a must-listen for those seeking to understand the depths of the injustices that occurred in this Tennessee county. By shedding light on this dark chapter in our justice system, we hope to inspire change and ensure that no child is subjected to such mistreatment again.
[1] The Kids of Rutherford County: http://nytimes.com/rutherfordcounty?utm_source=podnews.net&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=podnews.net:2023-10-25
[2] Subscribe to The Kids of Rutherford County: https://podnews.net/podcast/iauku
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https://podnews.net/press-release/kids-of-rutherford-county