The Kids of Rutherford County

By: Serial Productions & The New York Times
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  • Summary

  • From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. For over a decade, one Tennessee county arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. A four-part narrative series reveals how this came to be, the adults responsible for it, and the two lawyers, former juvenile delinquents themselves, who try to do something about it. To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts. To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter. Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com
    2023 The New York Times
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Politics & Government Social Sciences True Crime
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Episodes
  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Oct 19 2023

    For over a decade, one Tennessee county arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. A four-part narrative series reveals how this came to be, the adults responsible for it, and the two lawyers, former juvenile delinquents themselves, who try to do something about it.

    From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. Get it everywhere you get your podcasts on Thursday, October 26th.

    To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.

    To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.

    Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com

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    3 mins
  • Episode 1: The Egregious Video

    Episode 1: The Egregious Video
    Oct 26 2023

    A police officer in Rutherford County, Tenn., sees a video of little kids fighting, and decides to investigate. This leads to the arrest of 11 kids for watching the fight. The arrests do not go smoothly.

    From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

    To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.

    To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.

    Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com

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    28 mins
  • Episode 2: What the Hell Are You People Doing?

    Episode 2: What the Hell Are You People Doing?
    Oct 26 2023

    A young lawyer named Wes Clark can’t get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention — even when the law says they shouldn’t have been held in the first place. He’s frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend.

    From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

    To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.

    To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.

    Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com

    Show more Show less
    34 mins

What listeners say about The Kids of Rutherford County

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Profile Image for gina hill

My hometown

This is about my hometown but it’s so interesting even without that connection!
Great characters, so we’ll written and laid out.

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Profile Image for Eric Herman

Children deserve so much more

This story is one that will touch the soul of anyone with even half a heart. Children are so vulnerable and putting them through the agony of wholly unnecessary incarceration isn't a lesson--it's abuse. I hope that judge got more than just a soured reputation from this. To all the kids, many of whom are adults now, you are loved. May this situation be a burning bridge to light your new path instead of a traumatic burden on your being.

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Profile Image for MCMC

Harrowing Tale of Injustice

The true story of an out-of-control judge who ignores the law to throw kids as young as 7 into jail for minor offenses--observing a fight but not breaking it up, for instance--because she decided chlidren needed more discipline. She created a cruel system that inlcuded such punishments as being locked in solitary confinement ith no furniture, window or mattress for days at a time. No one in the system spoke up until a couple of young lawyers, after being ignored for far too long, finally helped initiate an investigation. The story is gut-wrenching, and I will never forget it.

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