Independent Lens
Camp Widow
At Camp Widow, every attendee, volunteer, speaker, and staff member has lost their partner; together they find camaraderie and unexpected joy.
Kids in Confinement
Kids in Confinement examines the juvenile justice system in Dallas County through the perspectives of those interrogating it, those who seek reform, and those within the system.
- Series
- Independent Lens
- Premiere Date
- February 12, 2024
- Length
- 5 episodes x 2 minutes
- Funding Initiative
- Short-Form Series and Special Projects
Director/Producer
Christine Nguyen
Christine Nguyen is a Houston-based journalist and filmmaker. She has been recognized by the EmmyⓇ Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and more. Previously she produced documentaries and projects for NBC News and helped launch the video program at New York Magazine. She is a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
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The Film
In this series, ITVS and The Dallas Morning News investigate the juvenile justice system in Dallas County, Texas. In theory, juvenile justice takes a rehabilitative approach to reform, while adult criminal justice is designed to punish and deter crime. For minors, the system is meant to help young offenders and prevent future run-ins with the law. However, the reality proves different in Dallas County. Kids in Confinement features interviews with John Creuzot, the Dallas County district attorney pushing for reforms in his office; Josephine Peterson, a journalist from The Dallas Morning News who has investigated the juvenile system in Dallas County; and Shirley, the grandmother of three kids who spent months in a juvenile detention center.
