American Crimes

Juvenile Court Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura observes that an indicator of what will happen in a child's life can be found by looking at the family and how supportive it has been; the kids seem to know this, too.

More than three thousand kids pass through the juvenile courts in Lake County, Indiana each year; here, consequences can range from a sleepless night in detention to the ultimate punishment for kids who keep coming back: Boys' School.

Ricky has spent a total of 266 days in Lake County, and another 16 months at a residential placement facility in Nevada; when he didn't return to his placement in Nevada after a weekend home pass, Ricky was picked up on a bench warrant.

A convicted sex offender becomes the victim of a brutal assault that leaves him unconscious and in the hospital; his assailants say the attack was warranted, but what they don't know might bring regret.

The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Jail has a daily population of about 2,000 men and women charged with anything from minor crimes to capitol murder; both buildings are overcrowded and their layouts are outdated.

An inmate's erratic behavior triggers the emergency response team and mental health staff; a murderer faces the death penalty while his girlfriend awaits trial in the women's wing of the same jail.

A repeat offender smuggles in contraband and an inmate becomes a marked man after murdering a Louisville rap star; a prescription pill epidemic takes its toll on the jail and drug use on the inside could keep another inmate from leaving.

A troubled young inmate, recently sentenced to prison, attempts to make a final impression on staff; a young woman who gave birth in the jail watches her baby grow up without her.

The jail responds with force after an officer is assaulted and inmates attempt escape; an 18-year old shoots her father to death then finds a surrogate mother on the inside.

A two-on-one assault leaves an inmate bloodied and injured, but getting to the bottom of this fight requires some digging; a popular restaurateur, accused of capitol murder, fights for his freedom.

An inmate causes chaos in his housing unit after accusing staff of abusing him, and he explodes in anger when a valued possession is taken from his cell; accused of a vicious vigilante-style murder, another inmate says jail has saved his own life.

Former gang members attempt to leave deadly rivalries behind, then the men in another housing unit deal with a completely different set of issues; a surprise contraband raid turns one housing unit upside down.

An inmate with an influential family in one gang, joins its arch rival; a female inmate who has ties to both gangs finds her mail has jail officials concerned.

The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Jail has a daily population of about 2,000 men and women charged with anything from minor crimes to capitol murder; both buildings are overcrowded and their layouts are outdated.

An inmate's erratic behavior triggers the emergency response team and mental health staff; a murderer faces the death penalty while his girlfriend awaits trial in the women's wing of the same jail.

A repeat offender smuggles in contraband and an inmate becomes a marked man after murdering a Louisville rap star; a prescription pill epidemic takes its toll on the jail and drug use on the inside could keep another inmate from leaving.

A troubled young inmate, recently sentenced to prison, attempts to make a final impression on staff; a young woman who gave birth in the jail watches her baby grow up without her.

The jail responds with force after an officer is assaulted and inmates attempt escape; an 18-year old shoots her father to death then finds a surrogate mother on the inside.

A two-on-one assault leaves an inmate bloodied and injured, but getting to the bottom of this fight requires some digging; a popular restaurateur, accused of capitol murder, fights for his freedom.

An inmate causes chaos in his housing unit after accusing staff of abusing him, and he explodes in anger when a valued possession is taken from his cell; accused of a vicious vigilante-style murder, another inmate says jail has saved his own life.

Former gang members attempt to leave deadly rivalries behind, then the men in another housing unit deal with a completely different set of issues; a surprise contraband raid turns one housing unit upside down.

An inmate with an influential family in one gang, joins its arch rival; a female inmate who has ties to both gangs finds her mail has jail officials concerned.

The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Jail has a daily population of about 2,000 men and women charged with anything from minor crimes to capitol murder; both buildings are overcrowded and their layouts are outdated.

An inmate's erratic behavior triggers the emergency response team and mental health staff; a murderer faces the death penalty while his girlfriend awaits trial in the women's wing of the same jail.

A repeat offender smuggles in contraband and an inmate becomes a marked man after murdering a Louisville rap star; a prescription pill epidemic takes its toll on the jail and drug use on the inside could keep another inmate from leaving.

A troubled young inmate, recently sentenced to prison, attempts to make a final impression on staff; a young woman who gave birth in the jail watches her baby grow up without her.

The jail responds with force after an officer is assaulted and inmates attempt escape; an 18-year old shoots her father to death then finds a surrogate mother on the inside.

A two-on-one assault leaves an inmate bloodied and injured, but getting to the bottom of this fight requires some digging; a popular restaurateur, accused of capitol murder, fights for his freedom.