“15 to Life” is a story of redemption that goes to the heart of why children cannot be treated as adults before the law.
Eleven years ago Kenneth Young received four life sentences. He was 15 years old. The United States is the only country in the world that routinely condemns children to die in prison. This is the story of one of those children, now a young man, seeking a second chance in Florida – one of the most punitive states in the country. “15 to Life” weaves the unfolding story of Kenneth’s resentencing with the story of his difficult childhood, and the circumstances that lead to a 30-day crime spree that changed his life forever.
Of the more than 2,500 children sentenced to life in prison, Kenneth’s story is both exceptional and universal. Like most children who receive death-in-prison sentences, Kenneth is African American, indigent and neglected. What makes his case extreme is the brutality of his punishment – four life sentences for armed robberies in which no one was injured. Kenneth’s story is a powerful testament to a child’s remarkable capacity for change, and a stinging indictment of a penal system that has condemned thousands of children to die in prison.
“15 to Life” is the second film in this year’s Human Rights Film Series, the Center’s flagship film event that showcases the year’s predominant human rights documentaries throughout the month of October.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with exerts in the field. Watch the trailer below, check out the Human Rights Film Series page, and visit the “15 to Life” website for more information.
This event will take place on October 8, 2014 from 7:00-9:30PM.
It is free and open to the public.
American University is committed to providing accessible programs and services.
For accommodations, contact [email protected].