Before They Could Dream: An Exploration of Youth Justice and Incarceration in the United States

Before They Could Dream is a seven-episode podcast series that explores the history, lived experiences, and lasting impact of youth incarceration in the United States.  The Aspen Institute’s Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS) in partnership with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) and Green Buzz Agency, set out to tell the story of youth incarceration in the United States from the perspective of five people who were given extreme sentences as children. The series explores each person’s early childhood, the dreams they once imagined, the choices they made under often dire circumstances, and the consequences that have followed them into adulthood. We’ve also invited a group of experts to join the conversation, grounding each story in vital factual, legal, and historical context. Together, they illuminate a system most Americans rarely see and the realities young people face when the law decides their futures before they can dream. Expe