Black Children Jailed for Crime That Doesn’t Exist

Scripps Howard Finalist: Black children were jailed for a crime that doesn't exist — and almost nothing happened to the adults involved.

Black Children Jailed for Crime That Doesn’t Exist
ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio
SMS

Rutherford County, Tennessee, has a staggering history of arresting children as young as 7 for petty offenses from possession of tobacco to petty theft. ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio set out to deconstruct the anatomy of a terrible system, what made it tick and grow — and the people who enabled it. They began this investigation after they learned what took place in an elementary school playground.

"Black Children Were Jailed for a Crime That Doesn’t Exist. Almost Nothing Happened to the Adults in Charge" is one of three finalists in the Excellence in Local/Regional Investigative Reporting category of the Scripps Howard Awards.

 The Scripps Howard Awards are one of the nation’s most prestigious journalism competitions. With a focus on high-impact reporting, the awards recognize journalism that spurs action, news organizations that go the extra mile to expose previously undisclosed or misunderstood information and journalists who embrace new ways to connect with their audiences.

The awards will air on Newsy at 8 p.m. ET on June 12. Stay tuned to find out more about the Scripps Howard Awards finalists and their remarkable journalism. To learn more about the Scripps Howard Awards, click here. To check out all of the finalists, click here.