In the Mix is the Emmy award winning PBS documentary series for teens
This program focuses on three young men who were arrested for serious offenses in their early teens. They vividly describe their experiences of being at the precinct, in detention, the courtroom and on probation. Instead of going back to the streets, they were mandated to attend the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) in Brooklyn, NY, an alternative to incarceration program funded by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. NYS Supreme Court Judge Sheryl Parker, who dealt with 2 of the teens, explains the legal consequences of some common offenses and highlights the importance of alternatives to incarceration. The boys praise the positive impact of the CCA program in changing their attitudes and behavior, and have strong messages for other at-risk teens about making smart choices.
ANTHONY: The judge ordered me to come to this program because she felt like I needed it. From back then to right now, I'm a whole different person. I have a whole different mentality, a whole different perspective of what to do, what not to do, what I'm going to do in my future, what I'm not going to do in my future. I make smart choices. I'm not dumb. Everybody has a mind of their own, everybody has a decision.
This program and others from the In the Mix series are available as DVDs, with performance rights and discussion guides, for educational use. Many are closed- captioned and have Spanish subtitles.
For more information or to order a copy of this episode, please visit www.inthemix.org.
