Best Youthjustice Podcasts (2025)

1
ICE Chief of Staff Michael Lumpkin Speaks on the Record About Conditions Inside Detention Centers, the Treatment of LGBTQ+ Detainees, and More 21:01

5M ago21:01

21:01

In our final episode of the series on ICE and gender, series co-editor Fernanda Santos interviews ICE Chief of Staff Michael Lumpkin to talk about ICE’s mission, what some see as strategic pitfalls, the treatment of trans migrants at detention centers, and the challenges and limitations of an overloaded system. Find an annotated transcript at our w…

1
Why Transgender Immigrants Don’t Need Allies, They Need Accomplices 29:55

4M ago29:55

29:55

Transgender migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. experience higher rates of sexual, physical, and emotional mistreatment while in ICE detention. In this roundtable, moderated by series creator Juleyka Lantigua, a trans immigration lawyer and a researcher expand on how ICE policies and procedures harm trans immigrants. They also make the case for not…

1
Angel Island, and Why the U.S. Has Historically Used Islands to Isolate, Process, and Deter Immigrants 30:26

5M ago30:26

30:26

We take a deeper look at the creation and enduring legacy of the country’s first detention center, Angel Island, and examine how the past reflects the complexities of today’s immigration matrix. Reporter Andrea Gutierrez visits Angel Island and hears from a Chinese descendant whose ancestor fought against her deportation in the 1920’s. Find an anno…

1
Mothers Seeking Asylum Face Much More Than Documentation Challenges 32:57

5M ago32:57

32:57

Many make the dangerous trek across South and Central America to arrive at the U.S. border to seek asylum and safely. But for some mothers, reaching the country is where their hardships begin. Reporter Inés Rénique connects with two immigrant mothers in NYC whose journeys only intensified as they sacrifice and work to support their families after a…

1
This Wyoming Lawyer Is Creating a Legal Safety Net for Asylum Seekers 31:25

5M ago31:25

31:25

In states with large immigrant populations, it’s easy to find an immigration lawyer. But in Wyoming, attorney Rosie Read’s nonprofit firm, the Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project, is a pioneer. Reporter Héctor Alejandro Arzate sees firsthand how Rosie’s work changes lives. Find an annotated transcript at our website here.Find more information—includ…

1
Accusations and Denials About the Treatment of Trans Migrants in ICE Custody, Part 2 17:41

5M ago17:41

17:41

Vicky, a trans migrant from Honduras who came to the US seeking asylum, was placed in an ICE detention center set up to support LGBTQ+ detainees. But she says the so-called “trans pod” only added to her isolation, anxiety, and the dehumanization she felt. At the Louisiana ICE Detention Center she says she experienced civil rights violations. Vicky …

1
Accusations and Denials About the Treatment of Trans Migrants in ICE Custody, Part 1 23:22

5M ago23:22

23:22

Detainees at ICE detention centers have long reported a lack of basic necessities, like edible food and potable water—but for transgender migrants, something as basic as physical safety can seem questionable. Vicky, a trans woman from Honduras, shares her story. Facing harassment after being housed with male detainees, she was placed in “isolation”…

1
Why These Afghan Women Had to Re-Learn to Be Mothers as Refugees in the US 31:08

5M ago31:08

31:08

Moving to the US as an immigrant from another country can sometimes take years. But in 2021, after the US’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan, many Afghans' safety and futures were upended overnight, leaving some with no choice but to abandon their homes in a rushed exodus. Reporter Adreanna Rodriguez has the story of two women who find themselves e…

1
Migrants Risk Their Lives During Hunger Strikes Inside ICE Detention, Part 2 29:09

5M ago29:09

29:09

In California, force-feeding detainees on hunger strike is illegal, but in Texas it’s legal. In part two of this mini-series, investigative reporter Jesse Alejandro Cottrell speaks with a former ICE detainee about the conditions inside ICE detention, the hunger strike he led, and the legality and morality of force-feeding strikers. Find an annotate…

1
Migrants Risk Their Lives During Hunger Strikes Inside ICE Detention, Part 1 26:08

5M ago26:08

26:08

When some detainees complained about the lack of basic safety, health and medical necessities inside some ICE detention centers, they said they faced punitive retribution—including solitary confinement. In this two-part episode, investigative reporter Jesse Alejandro Cottrell talks to detainees in custody and on the outside about why and how they o…

1
70 Million Investigates: ICE x Gender 2:00

4M ago2:00

2:00

In the sixth season of our Peabody Award-nominated series, we look at what happens at the intersection of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detainees across the gender spectrum. We investigate the myriad ways ICE is failing to address the safety and legal rights of those in custody, and how their gender identity may influence that.Find …

1
Introducing Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms 3:50

1+ y ago3:50

3:50

The newest narrative podcast from LWC Studios is out now! “Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms” is a 14-part series exploring how reparations should be paid and to whom. This podcast is meant to be enjoyed in an order that makes the most sense for our listeners. You can begin by listening to this episode or wherever you find your podc…

1
What’s the Public’s Role in Upholding a Broken Criminal Justice System? 28:51

2y ago28:51

28:51

Currently, over 7 million people are under some form of carceral supervision in the United States–from custody to bail to probation. For our final episode, 70 Million reporter Mark Betancourt moderates a conversation about the role we, the public, play in creating and sustaining the matrix of incarceration as it exists today. He’s joined by Cornell…

1
How Those Drowning in Carceral Debt Are Lining Others’ Pockets 44:19

2+ y ago44:19

44:19

The commercial bail bond industry is privatized, consolidated – and estimated to be worth $2.4 billion dollars. People arrested in a state like California, the most expensive place to post bail, often end up in cycles of carceral debt that derail their lives. Reporter Sonia Paul follows one woman’s story – and talks to the organizers, politicians, …

1
Why Policing Our Schools Backfires 34:52

2+ y ago34:52

34:52

School resource officers are often called upon in middle and high schools to help with routine discipline. But for many children, especially those with disabilities, a law enforcement response to their behavior can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. Reporter Claire McInerny tells one family’s story in Texas. Find a resource guide and annotated …

1
How Jailhouse Informants Rig the Justice System 34:36

2+ y ago34:36

34:36

For four decades, testimony from jailhouse informants has been the source of public scandal in criminal cases across the U.S. Research shows juries find these witnesses credible, even when they know informants benefit from their cooperation with prosecutors. The impact of this practice is hard to calculate. Reporter Rhana Natour looks at critical c…

1
Punished and Persecuted for Being Unhoused, Part 2 41:30

2+ y ago41:30

41:30

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the city of Los Angeles moved thousands of unhoused people into hotel rooms. The program, called Project Roomkey, was a temporary safety net during the national health emergency. But participants soon nicknamed it “Project No Key” because they felt more incarcerated than housed. Reporter Mark Betancourt chronicles thei…

1
Punished and Persecuted for Being Unhoused, Part 1 47:59

2+ y ago47:59

47:59

In Los Angeles, thousands of people who live outside have to navigate the insecurities caused by homelessness, the ire of housed neighbors, and the city penalizing them for their circumstances. In one park, months of efforts to remove unhoused people culminated in a showdown with police. Reporter Mark Betancourt investigates in this episode, part o…

1
Grand Juries, the Black Box of Justice Reform? 42:22

2+ y ago42:22

42:22

Grand juries are supposed to safeguard against the government charging people with a crime when it lacks sufficient evidence. But because prosecutors control what happens in grand jury proceedings, they almost always get an indictment. That is, unless the accused is a police officer. Reporter Mark Betancourt explores a case of police brutality in D…

1
Highway Robbery: How a Small-town Traffic Trap Became a Legal Black Hole 44:48

2+ y ago44:48

44:48

In Brookside, Alabama, an eager new police chief, unsuspecting motorists, and a state-mandated loophole converged to create a nightmare for local residents—and generate piles of cash for the local government. Reporter Rhana Natour has the story. Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.…

1
How Guilty Pleas Fastrack and Derail Justice 40:37

2+ y ago40:37

40:37

The US Constitution guarantees a right to trial to anyone accused of a crime, but less than 3 percent of criminal defendants get a trial. Instead, they’re regularly cornered into pleading guilty, sometimes admitting to a crime they didn’t commit. Reporter Mark Betancourt retraces one innocent man’s legal ordeal to explain why this happens. Find a r…

1
They’re Running for Office to Change the Criminal (Injustice) System 42:50

2+ y ago42:50

42:50

Weeks before the 2022 midterm elections, 70 Million creator and executive producer Juleyka Lantigua digs into the subject of criminal justice reform with three candidates from different parts of the country: Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Carolyn “Jiyoung” Park, and Durham County District Attorney, Satana DeBerry. All three spotlight inequities in polici…

1
Our Final Season Launches October 24! 2:37

2+ y ago2:37

2:37

Looking back over five seasons, we’re so thankful to you, our listeners, for believing in this work, for sharing the episodes, and for including our reporting in your own work. Season 5 builds on the legacy of this Peabody Award-nominated podcast with fresh in-depth reporting and our characteristic rich narrative storytelling. This time we start wi…

1
When a State Treats Drug Addiction Like a Health Issue, Not a Crime 35:25

3+ y ago35:25

35:25

A year ago, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize drug possession. The goal is to reverse some of the negative impacts of the War on Drugs by approaching drug use from a health-centered basis. We visit an addiction and recovery center in Portland that’s gearing up for what they hope will be an influx of people seeking treatment. Reported b…

1
When “Bail Reform” Isn't 27:23

3+ y ago27:23

27:23

Texas conservative lawmakers and bail reform advocates have long debated what bail reform can look like for those who cannot afford to bail themselves out of jail. Journalist Andrea Henderson looks closely at a new bail law some activists consider a setback. Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.…

1
Taking Mental Health Crises Out of Police Hands 34:39

3+ y ago34:39

34:39

Police encounters during a mental health crisis have a greater chance of turning deadly if you're Black. New response mechanisms bypass law enforcement and result in helpful interventions. Reporter Jeneé Darden looks at how folks in Northern California are trying to reimagine crisis response services. Find a resource guide and annotated transcript …

1
Forget Reform, They Want Abolition 27:04

3+ y ago27:04

27:04

Many organizers in St. Louis have given up on reforming the criminal legal system. Now, they’re working to abolish it. And they’re starting with the closure of one notorious jail. To reach their goal, they’ve decided to get involved in electoral politics. Reporter Chad Davis takes a look at what happens when you go from agitating from the outside t…

1
An Effort to Hold Prosecutors Accountable 32:10

3+ y ago32:10

32:10

A legal matrix that incentivizes criminal convictions can motivate unethical prosecutors to bend or break the rules. In New York, a group of law professors is trying to curb that by pushing the system to discipline its own. Reported by Nina Sparling. Find a resource guide and annotated transcript at our website here.…

1
We Went Back to See How These Reforms Worked 38:10

3+ y ago38:10

38:10

We wanted to see what has happened since we first reported on mental health interventions for arrestees in Miami, how the "bond angels" save lives in New Orleans, and what the digital police surveillance network called Project Greenlight has meant for Detroit. Reported by Danny Rivero, Eve Abrams and Sonia Paul. Find a resource guide and annotated …

1
Why COVID-19 Goes from Jails to Communities 36:03

3+ y ago36:03

36:03

This special roundtable of experts looks at how policing and incarceration practices are impacting COVID-19 rates in BIPOC communities around the country. Because being jailed means an increased risk of getting COVID-19, those released might unknowingly bring the virus home, putting their loved ones and communities at risk. Our editor, Jen Chien, m…

1
How Black Women Are Rightfully “Taking Seats at the Table” 29:36

3+ y ago29:36

29:36

Nearly one in two Black women in the US have a loved one who has been impacted by our carceral system. Many become de facto civilian experts as a result. Some rise to lead as outside catalysts for change. And now, scores of Black women are joining the ranks—as officers of the court, police, judges—to manage and advance a system that has had such an…

1
Curing “Petty, Everyday Injustice” in Cook County 36:21

3+ y ago36:21

36:21

The saying goes that “justice delayed is justice denied.” One part of Illinois’ judicial system has had an outsized role in delaying justice for decades: the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Home to Chicago, Cook County’s court system is massive, with more than a dozen courthouses generating millions of records. And in the records disarray, …

1
Where Juvenile Detention Looks More Like Teens Hanging Out 28:35

3+ y ago28:35

28:35

There’s a place in rural St. Johns, Arizona, where teens who have encounters with officers of the law can play pool, make music, and get mentored instead of going to jail. It’s called The Loft, and it’s the brainchild of a judge who wanted to save the county hundreds of millions of dollars and divert young people towards the support many were not g…

1
Season 4 Launches September 13! 2:14

3+ y ago2:14

2:14

Peabody Award-nominated podcast 70 Million is coming back for our fourth season! Join us for more in-depth reporting and rich narrative storytelling from communities impacted by the carceral complex. We'll bring you updates from previous seasons and new dispatches from the frontlines of criminal legal system reform. First episode launches September…

1
Where the COVID-19 Pandemic Might Finally Ignite Change in the Bail Bonds System 36:01

4+ y ago36:01

36:01

When jails across the country began releasing thousands of people amid the COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year, and mass demonstrations against police brutality brought millions out of their homes, criminal reform advocates wondered if they'd finally see significant and lasting reform. Journalist Renata Sago reports on two Florida jails that are ha…

1
TRAILER: Future Hindsight! 2:58

4+ y ago2:58

2:58

Our friends at Future Hindsight just launched Season 12! Future Hindsight is a weekly podcast that aims to spark civic engagement through in-depth conversations with citizen changemakers. Season 12 is full of thought-provoking, visionary and practical ideas that help us reimagine our future in a post pandemic and post Trump world. It covers everyth…

1
Where Housing, Not Jails, Is the Answer to Homelessness 41:09

4+ y ago41:09

41:09

In California, so-called quality of life laws criminalize panhandling, living in cars, and blocking sidewalks. Reporter Sarah McClure chronicles how arresting homeless individuals entangles them in a cycle of poverty and incarceration—and how three groups are breaking the cycle. This episode talks about some troubling details, which involve gun vio…

1
On Tribal Land, Banishment, Rehabilitation and Re-entry Add Up to Justice 36:34

4+ y ago36:34

36:34

In Alaska, rising violent crime and substance abuse across the state have also increased incarceration rates among Native Americans. Making use of their legal sovereignty, some Alaska Native leaders issue “blue tickets,” documents that sentence offenders to legal expulsion. Journalist Emily Schwing reports on the consequences and cultural impact of…

1
Where Hep C Remains Untreated for Those in Custody 33:49

4+ y ago33:49

33:49

Sean Wesley knew he had Hepatitis C when he started serving his prison sentence in Louisiana, and spent years trying to get treatment. Despite an innovative arrangement between a drug manufacturer and the state's Department of Corrections, he was transferred from facility to facility, and even finished his sentence, without ever receiving proper ca…

1
No Longer Waiting for Top-Down Reform 31:08

4+ y ago31:08

31:08

Over the past few years, voters across the U.S.have elected prosecutors who promised to implement much-needed criminal justice reforms, from decriminalizing marijuana to ending cash bail. Journalist Ruxandra Guidi revisits her reporting on the election of a new prosecutor in Houston two years ago, and chronicles how activists, relatives of incarcer…

1
TRAILER: Say Their Name! 2:59

4+ y ago2:59

2:59

From DCP Entertainment, "Say Their Name" is a documentary series that focuses on the assault and killing of unarmed Black people by police and in ‘Stand Your Ground’ states. It highlights incidents throughout the United States, memorializing these individuals through the words of the people that knew them best and helping us understand the aftermat…

1
A Special Court Keeping Native Americans Out of Jail 35:25

4+ y ago35:25

35:25

Kirsten made her way out of jail and addiction with the help of a special court on the Penobscot Nation reservation in Maine. There, culture and justice work together to bypass traditional punitive measures for more restorative ones. Reporter Lisa Bartfai visits the Healing to Wellness Court to see how it all works. Sign up for our newsletter today…

1
How the Asylum Process Became Another Carceral Matrix 45:36

4+ y ago45:36

45:36

The Trump administration has issued numerous policies to systematically dismantle asylum as a legal right. They're also locking up asylum seekers for months or years, until they either win their case, are returned to their home countries, or self deport. Reporters Valeria Fernández and Jude Joffe-Block follow two asylum seekers as they endure deten…

1
Why Detroit Might Be the True Test of Whether More Cameras Make Cities Safer 40:13

4+ y ago40:13

40:13

Reporter Sonia Paul takes us to Detroit, where 80% of residents are Black, and examines the tools, models and methods changing the nature of policing in the city — from the rise of live-streamed surveillance to facial recognition technology. She investigates their impact on residents, and implications for overpoliced communities of color across the…

1
Voting from Jail Is a Right, and Now a Reality in Chicago 40:06

4+ y ago40:06

40:06

A year ago, Illinois passed a law requiring all jails to ensure that pre-trial detainees have an opportunity to vote. Chicago’s Cook County Jail was turned into a polling place during the 2019 primaries. Sheriff Tom Dart is an enthusiastic supporter of the program. And advocates like Amani Sawari are working to ensure voters in custody are informed…

1
COVID-19 Makes Deciding Who Gets Out of Jail Urgent 36:43

4+ y ago36:43

36:43

James Howard III was arrested this spring and sent to Chicago’s Cook County Jail a few weeks into the state's coronavirus lockdown. Crowded, unsanitary, and with little means of social distancing, the single-site jail experienced a rapid outbreak of COVID-19. Mark Betancourt reports on the unprecedented steps officials took to control the outbreak,…

1
TRAILER: Driving The Green Book! 4:50

4+ y ago4:50

4:50

We produced something beautiful for Macmillan Podcasts!! Introducing Driving the Green Book, a ten-part documentary series premiering September 15. Follow award-winning BBC broadcaster Alvin Hall as he retraces many of the locations featured in the historic travel guide. From Detroit to New Orleans, Hall takes us on an immersive audio journey, coll…

1
Season 3 Starts Sept. 14! 2:31

4+ y ago2:31

2:31

We're back! Now as an award-winning and Peabody Award nominated podcast. Thank you for listening and sharing us. For two years we've documented criminal justice reform—one jail and one story at a time. In season 3, we travel the country exploring how our changing reality is impacting those in custody and the policies that keep them there. We're goi…

1
Two Rural Counties Take Diverting Paths to Jail Reform 30:31

5+ y ago30:31

30:31

Drug felony charges have more than doubled in Colorado as the state faces an opioid crisis. Jail admissions are on the rise in some counties. While diversion efforts are proving effective in others. But jails have also become “the dumping ground” for people with mental illness who are arrested. We visit one county that wants to use it’s jail less a…

1
Where Texting Brings People to Court 27:26

5+ y ago27:26

27:26

After someone is arrested, there are multiple court-ordered actions after they make bail. Often, missing any of these--especially court appearances--complicates their situation and increases their punishment. Reporter Jenny Casas goes to Palm Beach, Florida, where something as simple as texting has made a significant difference in people’s lives.…

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