Before Their Crimes, an interview with Dr. Wendy Smith

from Awakened Nation · host Brad Szollose

Imagine entering a maximum security prison in order to interview a murderer. That's exactly what Dr. Wendy Smith did in order to get to the root cause of adult violence. Dr. Smith has a fascinating interview with Brad on the motives behind The Menendez Brothers murders, and what drove them to kill their parents, along with her latest book, Before Their Crimes: What We're Misunderstanding about Childhood Trauma, Youth Crime, and the Path to Healing. Juvenile crime doesn't just happen-there is always a story behind it. And Dr. Smith gives us clues for healing. ABOUT DR. WENDY SMITH: Wendy Smith has had a lifelong interest in vulnerable youth, especially those affected by the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. In her 35 years of psychotherapy practice, she treated many survivors of child maltreatment, and she is an expert in trauma and child development. Her latest book, Before Their Crimes: What We're Misunderstanding about Childhood Trauma, Youth Crime, and the Path to Healing is a ground-breaking expose that sheds new light on the relationship of childhood trauma and juvenile crime. Her first book, Youth Leaving Foster Care: a developmental, relationship-based approach to practice, was a text for social work graduate students. A dedicated youth advocate, Dr. Smith was both a commissioner and chair of the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families, serving for eight years. She has been recognized by both the City and County of Los Angeles for her work with youth-serving community organizations, and has received awards from organizations such as The Alliance for Children’s Rights and CASA of Los Angeles. She has served on the boards of United Friends of the Children, the Children’s Advisory Board of Human Rights Watch, the Anti-recidivism Coalition, and Venice Family Clinic, where she also chaired the Behavioral Health and Child Development Committee. She is a founding member and current chair of the board of the National Foster Youth Institute. She is also a former professor and associate dean of curriculum planning and assessment at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she now serves on the Board of Councilors. Dr. Smith has published articles on brain development & child welfare and has also appeared in the Netflix series The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles. HOST OF AWAKENED NATION: Brad Szollose.

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